Blue finger

Senecio talinoides ssp. mandraliscae

Description

A sprawling succulent plant with rambling stems and distinctive cylindrical foliage. Leaves can range from blue-gray to pale-green in color and grow to 4-5 in. long with pointed tips.

This species occurs in South Africa’s Cape region where a number of subspecies have been selected for ornamental use. Two subspecies grow well in California and are planted for their striking foliage color and texture in rock gardens, containers and as ground covers. They do best in full sun, with good drainage and low moisture. One cultivar, S. t. ssp. cylindricus, Narrow-leaf chalksticks, is a rambling plant, 18-30 in. high and 4-5 ft. wide. Thin yellow-green cylindrical leaves are translucent and grow 3-5 in. long. A lower growing cultivar, S. t. ssp. mandraliscae, Blue finger, has bright glaucous-blue leaves that are 3-4 in. long and grow on succulent stems 12-18 in. high and several feet wide; small white flowers on branched stems appear in summer. Both cultivars survive temperatures to 15°F.

Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading, Sprawling
Growth Rate: Slow, Moderate
Foliage Color: Blue gray
Flower Color: White
Flower Season: Summer
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Drought, All day sun, Partial sun, Wind, Heat, Frost
Function: Raised planters, Near pools and water features, Mass planting, Grouped, Foliage accent plant, Container plant, Commercial spaces, Civic spaces, Borders, Banks, Slopes, Rock gardens, Residential spaces
Height: 12 in. – 18 in.
Width: 3 ft. – 4 ft., can slowly spread further

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.