Curio rowleyanus H.Jacobsen, P.V. Heath 1999

Common name(s): String of Pearls, String of Beads, Rosary Vine, String of Peas, Bead Plant, Necklace Plant, Irish Beads, String of Marbles

Family: Asteraceae Subfamily: Asteroideae Synonym(s): Senecio rowleyanus H.Jacobsen 1968, Kleinia rowleyana H. Jacobsen, G.Kunkel 1988, Curio rowleyanus f. marmoratus P.V. Heath 1999
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 7th July, 2021 at Montacute, South Australia
Stem
Stem
Taken by Ken Harrington
Flower
Flowers
Taken by Ken Harrington
Fruit
Fruit
Taken by Unkown
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Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties
Origin(s)
South Africa
  • Western Ca: Indigenous
  • Eastern Ca: Indigenous
  • Nth Cape: Indigenous
Namibia
  • Namibia: Indigenous
Plant Type
Forb - Perennial Herb, Evergreen Succulent, Groundcover, Trailing
Forb - Perennial Herb,
Evergreen Succulent,
Groundcover,
Trailing
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Arid-Semi / Steppe, Oceanic, Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean
Arid-Semi / Steppe,
Oceanic,
Temperate Cool,
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Sun - Morning, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Sun - Morning,
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Mediterranean (Maquis Shrubland), Open Woodlands
Mediterranean (Maquis Shrubland),
Open Woodlands
Habitat Zone(s)
Hill Sides, Ridges, Rock crevices, Sandy Dry, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Understory, Well drained, Wind Protected
Hill Sides,
Ridges,
Rock crevices,
Sandy Dry,
Sandy Moist,
Scattered,
Understory,
Well drained,
Wind Protected
Mature Height
10-15mm
10-15mm
Mature Width
900mm-1m
900mm-1m
Plant Shape
Prostrate
Prostrate
Prostrate Prostrate
Growth Rate
Moderate, Fast
Moderate,
Fast
Maturity
2-4 yrs.
2-4 yrs.
Life Span
5-10yrs
5-10yrs
Leaf Properties
Leaf Colour (front)
Green, Green-grey
Green,
Green-grey
Leaf Colour (back)
Green, Green-grey
Green,
Green-grey
Leaf Shape(s)
Globose
Globose
Leaf Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Smooth
Smooth
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Smooth Smooth,
Waxy Waxy
Fleshy
Fleshy
Leaf Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Smooth
Smooth
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Smooth Smooth,
Waxy Waxy
Fleshy
Fleshy
Leaf Length(s)
10-15mm
10-15mm
Leaf Width(s)
10-15mm
10-15mm
Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Alternate
Alternate Alternate
Leaf Aroma
None
None
Trunk / Stem Properties
Trunk / Stem Upper Colour(s)
Green-grey , Green
Green-grey,
Green
Trunk / Stem Base Colour(s)
Green-grey , Green
Green-grey,
Green
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Flowering Time (start)
Summer Early
Summer Early
Flowering Time (end)
Summer Late
Summer Late
Colour(s)
Cream, White
Cream,
White
Aroma(s)
Spicy-slight, Sweet-slight
Spicy-slight,
Sweet-slight
Flower Shape(s)
Simple Globular
Simple Globular
Tubulate
Tubulate
Simple Globular Simple Globular,
Tubulate Tubulate
Flower Size(s) Width
1-2.5mm
1-2.5mm
Arrangement(s)
Capitulum / Head
Capitulum / Head
Capitulum / Head Capitulum / Head
Axillary , Erect
Axillary,
Erect
Arrangement Size(s)
10-15mm
10-15mm
Flowers per Arrangement
many
many
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Insects
Bees,
Insects
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Capitulum
Capitulum
Capitulum Capitulum
Outer Colour(s)
Cream-white
Cream-white
Outer Texture
Fluffy , Papery
Fluffy,
Papery
Aroma
None
None
Season of Fruiting
Summer Late, Autumn Early
Summer Late,
Autumn Early
Root Properties
Type
Fibrous
Fibrous
Repent
Repent
Fibrous Fibrous,
Repent Repent
Invasiveness
None
None
Soil Properties
pH Range(s)
Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Moist
Moist
Moist-Dry
Moist-Dry
Moist Moist,
Moist-Dry Moist-Dry
Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Shallow,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
Slight Slight
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering, WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,
WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering,
WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
None
None
Bird Attraction
None
None
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
2nd Line
2nd Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
Moderate
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Good
Good
Frost Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Smog Tolerant
Moderate
Moderate
Landscape Use
Moderate
Moderate
Pests/Diseases
Mealy Bug, Mites, Root Rot Fungus, White Fly
Mealy Bug,
Mites,
Root Rot Fungus,
White Fly
Humidity Requirements
Low, Medium
Low,
Medium
Fertilising Requirements
FR6, FR11
FR6,
FR11
Wind Tolerance
Moderate Winds
Moderate Winds

General Notes

An attractive small succulent with small pea shaped leaves in a hanging basket or cascading over an embankment or as a mass planted ground cover. In its natural environment it does form mats on the ground in shaded or partly shaded areas under open shrubs or trees, though being very brittle it is not a groundcover that can be walked on.

The globular shape of the leaf with a small pointed tip, reduces the area for transparation but also reduces the are for photosynthesis, to compensate there is a small dark green translucent band down the side of the leaf known as a 'window', which allows light to enter and irradiate the interior of the leaf, increasing the area of leaf tissue for photosynthesis.

There is a cultivar available Curio rowleyanus 'Variegatus', green and creamy white