String of pearls: location, propagation and toxicity

You may have heard of string of hearts, but what about string of pearls? Senecio rowleyanus looks like a string adorned with tiny, delicate green pearl-shaped leaves.

String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus syn. Curio rowleyanus), also known as string of beads, is a low-maintenance trailing succulent. It is popular not only for its small, bead-like leaves, but also for its decorative and fragrant white flowers with brightly-coloured stamens. Read on to learn how to grow and propagate string of pearls plants and find out whether or not this succulent is toxic.

String of pearls: flower, origin, and properties

The string of pearls plant is a member of the aster family known as Asteraceae. This trailing evergreen is only found naturally in Southwest Africa. As a succulent, this unique plant stores water in its small, mid-green, round leaves. The leaves look similar to pearls or beads on a string, hence the name string of pearls or string of beads.

While the shoots only measure about one millimetre in diameter, they can reach up to one metre long. When the shoots come into contact with the soil, they can grow roots and eventually form a dense carpet on the ground, though this is more common in the wild. When kept as a houseplant, the shoots usually hang over the edge of the pot and look great flowing down from a hanging basket.

Even as indoor plants, string of pearls can bloom and make quite a statement with their flowers. String of pearls flowers are quite small with many white bracts, tubular petals with tips that curve outwards, and violet pistils with yellow pollen at the tip. The flowers have a spicy-sweet scent and smell slightly of cinnamon.

Due to the fact that shoots lay flat or trail down, string of pearls plants only reach about 10 cm in height.

Did you know? String of pearls leaves are round, so have quite a small surface area and therefore transpire relatively little water, which greatly benefits this succulent in its natural habitat.

The best varieties

As of yet, there are very few string of pearls varieties. With a little luck, you may come across the variegated string of pearls with white-green leaves known as Senecio rowleyanus ‘Variegata’. As is often the case with variegated plants, the variegated string of pearls variety requires even more light than the usual kind and may revert and lose its variegation in shady or partially shady conditions. The variegated variety also grows somewhat slower.

Where and how to grow string of pearls

The light-loving string of beads prefers a location with plenty of light, but without direct midday sun. A south-facing window with light curtains or a south-east or south-west window is best for this plant. String of pearls plants also like to be a little on the warmer side. Ideally, you should keep them somewhere around 20 °C in summer and about 12 °C in winter. It should not be exposed to temperatures below 8 °C in winter. That said, a certain amount of cold is necessary for string of pearls to flower in the spring.

As they need more light in summer, it is a good idea to move your string of pearls outdoors. You will, however, need to slowly acclimatise the plant to the conditions outside by placing it in a sheltered spot in partial shade at first. Put the plant outside for a few hours on an overcast day and gradually increase the time little by little until it can be kept outside permanently. If temperatures fall below 12 °C at night, bring your string of pearls back inside.

Before planting your string of pearls, it is essential to create a drainage layer out of course materials, such as expanded clay, to allow excess water to run off. The ideal soil for string of beads is one with a looser structure and low nutrient content. An herb soil such as our Plantura Organic Herb and Seedling Compost is a good choice. Our organic and peat-free soil contains fewer nutrients than regular potting soil and remains structurally stable for a long time. Even with its loose structure, it still stores water well. For even better drainage, we recommend mixing in about a third of sand.

Organic Herb & Seedling Compost, 20L

(4.8/5)

• Perfect for herbs as well as sowing, propagating & transplanting
• For aromatic herbs & healthy seedlings with strong roots
• Peat-free & organic soil: CO₂-saving composition

£12.49

Shop now!

As string of pearls plants develop quite a shallow, surface-level root system, it is best to plant them in a wide, shallow clay planter with a drainage hole. It is also better to plant your string of pearls higher up in the planter rather than too deep to allow it to form roots on its own once the shoots come into contact with the soil. Bear in mind that string of pearls is a delicate plant. To avoid damaging the waxy outer layer on the leaves when planting it, handle the plant at the base of the shoots. All that is left now is to take proper care of string of pearls.

How to propagate string of pearls

To propagate string of pearls succulents, you can either divide the mother plant or take cuttings. It is best to take string of pearls cuttings in the spring when the plant is actively growing. Spring is generally also the ideal time to cut back your plant, so you can use any cuttings you take to propagate your plant directly. Make sure there are at least two to three leaves on each shoot you are using to propagate your string of pearls. Allow the cuttings to dry for a couple of days at room temperature before placing them in a slightly moist substrate, similar to the conditions the mother plant requires. As long as they are in a bright and warm place at about 20 °C, your string of pearls cuttings should take root after just two weeks. If you are hoping for a fuller plant, plant multiple cuttings in one pot. To propagate through division, carefully separate the mother plant’s root ball into two parts while repotting and pot up each part separately.

Is string of pearls poisonous?

Yes. Almost all members of the Senecio genus contain toxins, including string of pearls. Keep children and pets away from your string of pearls to prevent them from eating any parts of the plant. If ingested in larger quantities, gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhoea or vomiting may occur.

The long hanging vines of the string of pearls can make it look like the planter is growing hair. Another low-maintenance houseplant known as mind-your-own-business (Soleirolia soleirolii) has a similar effect.