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The String of Bananas, Senecio radicans, is a popular succulent houseplant among plant enthusiasts. A member of the family Asteraceae, the asters, this species is closely related to the common String of Pearls, and is a relatively low maintenance tropical or indoor plant native to South Africa. With multiple tendrils of glossy, banana-shaped foliage, it makes an attractive addition to succulent gardens, containers, and hanging planters. Like most members of the Senecio genus, S.radicans is relatively hardy and easy to grow, making it a great starting point for novice gardeners and those seeking entry to the succulent or container gardening hobbies. An interesting addition to any home or garden, S. radicans is especially good for pots, hanging baskets, succulent gardens, and other areas in need of textural interest.

Distribution
Senecio radicans is native to the Cape Province region of South Africa. In fact, in the desert areas of South Africa where aridity increases, including the Karroid central region, the dominant vegetation consists of xerophytic dwarf shrubs and succulents, including many members of the Genus Senecio. In these areas of very low moisture, the grasslands typical of other areas of Africa give way to areas in which grass is subdominant to these drought-tolerant plants, which are frequently spaced far apart with wide expanses of sandy or rocky stretches in between.

Habitat and Ecology
As a native to the Cape Province area of South Africa, Senecio radicans is a succulent that can grow in warm, tropical areas and also fairs well in arid regions. Its succulent tissues help to conserve moisture, rendering it well-adapted for the dry, hot conditions characteristic of many parts of its native South Africa. Like most succulents, this species is frost-tender and cannot withstand freezing temperatures (below 32 degrees F), restricting it to areas where the annual temperatures do not drop below this point.

Morphology


Individuals of this species have a prostrate growth habit with mat-forming stems 15–30 cm long. Its growth in long, matted tendrils makes the “String of Bananas” an excellent groundcover, as well as ideal for cascading over the edges of containers or hanging baskets.

Foliage


Grown for the shape, texture, and color of its attractive foliage rather than for its blooms, Senecio radicans can provide a much needed textural element to a garden. This plant features fleshy, glossy, and elongated succulent leaves that curve and taper to a pointed tip, much like the shape of a banana. Each leaf if cylindrical in shape, 2–3 cm long, and features 2 translucent lines on either side. With an alternate arrangement of leaves and a delicate branching pattern of the strands, this plant’s foliage is truly its most captivating feature.

Flowers and fruit
Senecio radicans produces small, cinnamon-scented, white or off-white flowers, usually in the late winter or early spring seasons, although some growers are able to encourage multiple flowering periods throughout the year. Like other species in the Senecio genus, The inflorescences consist of clusters of many small flowers on a common receptacle. This species, like most of the Senecios, are grown more for the color, shape, or texture of their foliage than for their blooms, which are small, white, and not very showy.

Usage
The Senecio radicans is purely ornamental and should never be ingested since all portions of this species are toxic.

Growing and Care Instructions
The String of Bananas requires a moderate amount of water, and its soil should remain slightly moist, but never soggy, at all times. It’s better to allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings than to overwater, since the plant is able to live off of the moisture in its fat, succulent tissues if necessary. It is fairly tolerant of variations in watering, but the roots should never dry out completely. Extreme fluctuations in moisture are detrimental to the plant and may result in its death, so it’s important to learn approximately how often your plant needs to be watered. Although some growers report that their Senecio radicans proliferates in full sunlight, most agree that it prefers light shade. Even succulents that live in the full sunlight of the desert usually have some sun protection from nearby objects, so it’s important to keep your ''0S. radicans'' out of direct light for extensive periods of time. This species, like most succulents, grows best with about 3–4 hours of direct sun per day, ideally receiving early morning or late afternoon light as well as filtered direct sunlight or partially shaded conditions during the hottest part of the day. However, the fact that these are winter growers means that they require more light in the winter while actively growing than during their dormancy period in the summer. A North, East, or West facing window should be fine, but this species is not usually harmed by experimentation with different levels of light intensity. Most succulents are frost-tender and cannot withstand freezing temperatures (below 32 degrees F). In temperate regions where the annual temperature varies throughout the year, this plant acts as an annual, dying in the autumn when the weather gets too cold outdoors. As a summer-dormant plant that actively grows in the winter, it makes a long-lived houseplant indoors, and moving it temporarily inside during the winter months can be an effective solution until warmer weather returns. Overwintering it in a warm area with at least six hours of bright daylight is ideal. This species will tolerate a wide range of Soil pH levels, from about 6.1 (mildly acidic) to 7.8 (mildly alkaline). To keep the plant compact and full in shape, trim "lanky" strands off to stimulate branching out rather than increased length. The cuttings can easily be rooted in water and used to grow new plants. Propagation of new plants is done from rooting cuttings of the stem. Cuttings taken during the shaping of the plant can be a great opportunity to use the extra strands without wasting any plant materials or damaging the desired shape of the parent plant. Not only will the original plant become bushier and more full looking, but numerous new plants can also be produced from a few cuttings.
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Availability
Available at many garden centers, specialty stores, and other places where plants are sold. Greenhouses specializing in unusual or specialty items are more likely to have this interesting succulent house plant, but they are also sold through the internet.