Kleinia Stapeliiformis (Senecio Stapeliiformis)

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Native

South Africa (Eastern Cape)

Description

Kleinia stapeliiformis is an attractive Succulent Plant with prettily marked pencil-like stems with purple-green patterns and soft spines along the sides. The stems are cylindrical, soft, brittle, glabrous and highly succulent, jointed, up to 10 inches (25 cm) long, up to 0.8 inch (2 cm) thick, with 4-6 or rarely more angles or grooves with scale-leaves arranged along the ribs, dark green and often with an unusual pinkish tinge with silvery-green striations and purple arrowhead markings below each node. Flowers are large, hawkweed-like and red or orange in color.

Environment

Established plants are extremely drought tolerant. They do need some water, during the summer, but do not leave the soil wet for prolonged periods. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings in the winter, when they are somewhat dormant. Since they are growing in sandy soil, nutrients will need to be replenished. Fertilize annually, but lightly. Too much fertilizer will cause a lot of leggy growth.

Landscape Uses

Make excellent potted plants and also these species grows on rocky outcrops, in grasslands or pampas, on plains and walls.