String of Pearls

Curio rowleyanus

Also called String of beads, Senecio rowleyanus.

Strands of tiny green beads that cascade like a necklace. Each pearl has a little "window" to let light in.

  • LightSome sun
  • WaterThirstier
  • A little fussy
  • Toxic to pets
A mass of string-of-pearls stems, covered in round, bead-like green leaves.
Photo: NasserHalaweh on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP.

Key facts

Light
Bright light, some direct sunBright light with a little gentle direct sun, ideally morning sun. Too much harsh sun scorches the pearls.
Water
Water when the top of the soil is dry and the pearls look slightly less plump. Roughly every 1–2 weeks in the growing season. Less in summer heat.
Soil
Gritty cactus mix in a shallow pot, so roots don't sit in wet soil.
Pets
Toxic to petsTreat it as toxic. The ASPCA doesn't list string of pearls by name, but it lists Senecio species, the group it was long classed in, as toxic to cats and dogs. Hang it well out of reach.What to do if a pet eats a plant
Difficulty
A little fussy

More details

Temperature
Keep above 45°F (7°C). Not frost hardy.
Growing season
Cooler months (autumn to spring). Slows in summer heat.
Size
Trailing strands 2–3 ft (60–90 cm) long.
Propagate from
Stem cuttings
Native to
Dry areas of South Africa and Namibia, creeping along the ground under shrubs.

Why people love it

It looks almost too strange to be real: strings of perfect green beads tumbling over the edge of a pot. Each pearl is a modified leaf. Look closely and you’ll see a thin, translucent line on its side. That’s an “epidermal window” that lets light reach inside the leaf.

Care in a nutshell

  • Shallow and gritty. The roots are shallow and rot easily. A wide, shallow pot with a gritty mix is ideal.
  • Keep the crown full. Lay some strands back over the soil surface. They’ll root and keep the top of the pot looking lush.
  • Watch the pearls. Plump, round pearls are well watered. Wrinkled or dimpled pearls are thirsty. Mushy pearls are overwatered.

Watch out for

  • A bald top with long, thin strands: the crown has rotted or dried. Take cuttings and replant them on top.
  • Shriveled strands near the soil while the tips look fine: often root rot from soil that stays wet too long.

Fun fact: Botanists moved this plant from Senecio to Curio in 1999, but you’ll still see both names on plant tags.

Next steps

Learn the basics behind this care card, or check a problem.

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