Senecio haworthii (Sweet) Sch.Bip. 

🌱 Morphology
  Succulent subshrub with compact, branched growth, reaching approximately 20–50 cm in height. Its stems are covered with fleshy, cylindrical leaves densely covered in soft, felted white hairs, giving them the appearance of small cotton buds. This hairy covering reflects part of the solar radiation and helps reduce water loss, an essential adaptation in its arid habitat. With adequate lighting, it retains its characteristic silvery-white color.

🌍 Origin, habitat and family
Family Asteraceae, subfamily Asteroideae, tribe Senecioneae.

It is native to South Africa, especially the arid areas of the Little Karoo and Richtersveld, where it grows on rocky slopes and very well-drained soils, often at altitudes between 900 and 1,200 m. It is commonly sold as Senecio haworthii, although some botanical classifications include it in Caputia tomentosa.

❄️ Temperature — USDA 9a
It tolerates brief drops below freezing when the substrate remains dry, but prolonged cold accompanied by moisture can cause root damage and rot. It is recommended to protect it from severe frosts and persistent winter rain.

☀️ Lighting
It needs plenty of light to maintain its compact growth and white leaf covering. A target DLI PAR of 15–25 mol/m²/day is recommended, with gradual acclimatization to direct sunlight. Insufficient lighting can cause elongated stems and a less silvery appearance.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Opportunistic. Growth depends on the temperature and environmental conditions. During the vegetative growth period, it is recommended to water thoroughly and allow the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. Water less frequently when temperatures are low and prevent moisture from accumulating at the base of the stems.

🌸 Flowering
It produces tall inflorescences with small yellow to orange flower heads, generally during the warmer months. Although its flowering is attractive, its main ornamental value lies in the extraordinary contrast between the silvery-white foliage and the stems.

🌿 Nutrition
During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, providing high levels of potassium and bioavailable calcium. Reduce or stop fertilizing when growth slows down.

Gourmet black 9x9 cm pot

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with a substrate enriched with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The photo description specifies the plant's measurements, but these may also vary slightly because it is a living thing! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.