Senecio serpens – Blue Chalksticks
Bring bold colour and sculptural form to your garden with Senecio serpens, a low-growing succulent known for its striking blue-grey foliage and ground-hugging habit. Commonly called Blue Chalksticks, this drought-hardy plant forms dense, spreading mats of cylindrical, chalky-blue leaves that create a cool-toned contrast in rockeries, borders, pots, and coastal gardens.
Reaching around 15–25 cm in height and spreading up to a metre wide, Senecio serpens is ideal as a groundcover, edging plant, or filler between pavers and stones. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and it’s highly tolerant of dry conditions, poor soils, and salt-laden winds—making it perfect for xeriscaping and coastal landscapes.
In summer, it may produce small white flowers on slender stems, but this plant is primarily grown for its standout foliage and textural impact. Its compact, trailing form also makes it an excellent choice for containers, rooftop gardens, or cascading over retaining walls.
Whether you’re designing a modern, Mediterranean, or waterwise garden, Senecio serpens offers year-round colour, sculptural interest, and minimal maintenance—all in one resilient, eye-catching plant, commonly known as Blue Chalksticks.
