Blue chalksticks

Senecio serpens

Description

This small spreading succulent brings the color blue into garden plantings in bold and attractive ways. Foliage is comprised of short cylindrical stems; it commonly reaches 6-8 in. high and can spread 1-2 ft. wide. and more.

Blue chalksticks is a ground hugging plant that draws attention and creates special interest throughout garden spaces. It easily flows around rocks, spills out of containers and mixes well with Mediterranean and southwestern plantings alike. Good drainage, full sun and low amounts of summer water provide best results. Small white flowers add modest interest in summer.

Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading, Dense, Clumping
Growth Rate: Slow
Foliage Color: Blue gray
Flower Color: White
Flower Season: Summer
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Wind, Morning sun, Heat, Drought, All day sun, Partial sun
Function: Near pools and water features, Mass planting, Grouped, Foliage accent plant, Container plant, Commercial spaces, Borders, Rock gardens, Residential spaces, Raised planters
Height: 6 in. – 8 in.
Width: 1 ft. – 2 ft.

Watering Schedule: Low 2

For most situations, we recommend watering deeply every 2 weeks after establishment.

Learn how to apply this watering schedule to your landscape on our How to water waterwise and California native plants page.

Important Notes

These are general guidelines. Always observe and adjust as necessary for your landscape.
If it rains over 1” you will likely not need to water for at least another two weeks. Before watering again, check the soil. It should be significantly dry at least 4” below the soil surface before watering.
To save water, in many cases you can go longer in between waterings during the winter, often up to 3-4 weeks between watering for well-established plants. Two weeks after watering, check the soil approximately 4” below the surface. If it is still significantly moist, you can wait longer before watering again.
In most cases, if you have a “smart timer” or weather sensitive irrigation controller, you may use these features to save some water in in the fall and winter. If you are using automatic weather adjusting functions, continue to allow the timer to run every two weeks. It will adjust the number of minutes it runs to account for the cooler weather.
It is important to group plants with the same water needs together in the landscape to avoid needing to over or under water plants when running your irrigation system.