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

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 7th July, 2021 at Montacute, South Australia

Stem

Taken by Ken Harrington

Flowers

Taken by Ken Harrington

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

Mature Width

900mm-1m

Plant Shape

Prostrate

Growth Rate

Moderate, Fast

Moderate,

Fast

Maturity

2-4 yrs.

Life Span

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

Leaf Texture (front)

Glabrous

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Smooth,

Waxy

Fleshy

Leaf Texture (back)

Glabrous

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Smooth,

Waxy

Fleshy

Leaf Length(s)

10-15mm

Leaf Width(s)

10-15mm

Leaf Margin(s)

Entire

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Cross Section(s)

Terete

Apice(s)

Mucronate

Base(s)

Obtuse

Leaf Aroma

None

Leaf Attachment

Petiolate

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

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Texture (Upper)

Glabrous

Waxy

Glabrous,

Waxy

Fleshy , Thin

Fleshy,

Thin

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Texture (Lower)

Glabrous

Waxy

Glabrous,

Waxy

Fleshy , Thin

Fleshy,

Thin

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Construction

Pith Continuous

Stem - Brittle , Stem - Soft

Stem - Brittle,

Stem - Soft

Diameter / Thickness

0.5-1mm, 1-5mm

0.5-1mm,

1-5mm

Trunk / Stem Cross Section

Terete

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Length

700-800mm, 800-900mm, 900mm-1m

700-800mm,

800-900mm,

900mm-1m

Trunk / Stem / Phylloclade Aroma

None

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Summer Early

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Late

Colour(s)

Cream, White

Cream,

White

Aroma(s)

Spicy-slight, Sweet-slight

Spicy-slight,

Sweet-slight

Flower Shape(s)

Simple Globular

Tubulate

Simple Globular,

Tubulate

Flower Size(s) Width

1-2.5mm

Arrangement(s)

Capitulum / Head

Axillary , Erect

Axillary,

Erect

Arrangement Size(s)

10-15mm

Flowers per Arrangement

many

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects

Bees,

Insects

Stamen Colour(s)

Red

Stamen Number

many

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Capitulum

Outer Colour(s)

Cream-white

Outer Texture

Fluffy , Papery

Fluffy,

Papery

Aroma

None

Season of Fruiting

Summer Late, Autumn Early

Summer Late,

Autumn Early

Seed Properties

Type

Cypsela

Texture(s)

Fluffy

Seed Appendage

Pappus

Seed Dispersal

Wind

Seed Number

many

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Repent

Fibrous,

Repent

Texture

Fibrous , Pliable

Fibrous,

Pliable

Colour(s)

Brown Dark

Invasiveness

None

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Shaley, Stony, Calcareous

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Shaley,

Stony,

Calcareous

pH Range(s)

Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline

Condition(s)

Moist

Moist-Dry

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

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

Bird Attraction

None

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Regrowth

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Good

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Snow Tolerance

None

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

-4 - -2°C

Smog Tolerant

Moderate

Landscape Use

Moderate

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Leaf Removal

Pests/Diseases

Mealy Bug, Mites, Root Rot Fungus, White Fly

Mealy Bug,

Mites,

Root Rot Fungus,

White Fly

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Border Plant, Garden-Container, Fire Retarding, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Cottage, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Xeriscape, Groundcover, Sand Binder, Shade Tolerant, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Soil Binder, Suckering, Sunny Dry, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Garden-Border Plant,

Garden-Container,

Fire Retarding,

Foliage-interesting,

Garden-Cacti,

Garden-Cottage,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Desert,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Mediterranean,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Xeriscape,

Groundcover,

Sand Binder,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Dry,

Shady Moist,

Soil Binder,

Suckering,

Sunny Dry,

Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Low, Medium

Low,

Medium

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Fertilising Requirements

FR6, FR11

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds

Poisonous To

Humans

Poisonous Parts

Leaves

Propagation

Fresh Seed

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

Propagation Notes

Hardwood Stem Cuttings

Cutting

Summer, Spring

Material Preparation

Firm wood, tip or stem cuttings. Cutting approximately 50 - 100mm long with at least 4 - 8 nodes. Cut just below bottom node, remove globular lower leaves, flowers, seed pods. Place to one side and allow the wounds to callous and dry for 24 - 48 hrs.

Propagating Mix

Premium Cactus/Succulent soil

1 part Premium Potting soil + 1 part course washed sand

Treatment

Fill the P2 tubes with mix. Water tubes of mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Easiroot hormone may be used but no rooting hormone is really required. Using a dibber press cutting gently into tube of mix, until the cutting sits firm. Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Fill the pot with mix. Easiroot hormone may be used but no rooting hormone is really required. Place large cuttings in the pot or tub, fill in around the cutting and firm up mix until the cutting sits firm. Water pots or tubs thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 3 - 4 weeks

Nursery Stock 3 - 4 weeks

Tube Mix:- Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Premium Potting Mix