Gardening with Wilson

Senecio macroglossus is a vine that is often featured in houseplant books but is seldom sold in the plant nurseries in Singapore. When it is not in flower, the foliage of Senecio macroglossus resemble those found on an English ivy, which are smooth and fleshy to touch, and have five pointed corners. Because of this characteristic, this vine is referred to via a range of common names which include cape ivy, Natal ivy and wax vine. When broken, both the leaves and stems are said to release a lemony scent.

Botanically, Senecio macroglossus is classified as a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae) whereas the English ivy, botanically known as Hedera helix, belongs to the Araliaceae family.  The plant that I have managed to have a look was the variegated version that had some flowers on it. Each blossom looked like a large, pale yellow daisy flower which is reported to remain open on cloudy or dull days and visited by bees, moths and wasps.

Like many other but not all Senecio species, the seeds borne by this plant are wind-dispersed and look like little sticks with a tuft of grey or white hairs attached to one end (called pappus). These hairs help the seeds to catch the wind. The genus name Senecio is derived from the Latin word ‘senex’, which has the meaning of ‘old man’ due to pappus found on the seeds. The species name macroglossus means large-tongued which probably refers to the large size of each leaf.

Although it is a drought-tolerant plant that is native to South Africa, Senecio macroglossus is suited for growing in Singapore’s tropical, hot and humid climate. Unlike the English ivy which tends to trail over a pot, Senecio macroglossus exhibits a predominant climbing habit by twining its slender stems around supports. When climbing up or sprawling on an area that kept moist most of the time, the stems may produce roots at the nodes along a stem.

In my workplace, we got some Senecio macroglossus plants thriving in a rather shady corner in the nursery. Various internet sources and houseplant books indicated that this vine can be adapted to grow in sunnier eareas. To grow Senecio macroglossus, it is recommended to grow it in a neutral to slightly alkaline, fertile, loamy soil that is well-draining.

To feed it, it is recommended to apply some pellets of slow-release fertiliser that is supplemented with liquid foliar feeding.  In general, Senecio macroglossus is relatively pest- and disease-free. Aphids and mealy bugs may attack developing flower buds or young growing tips. Over-watering or constantly wet root zone can cause the vine to rot.

Senecio macroglossus can be propagated by stem-cuttings or seed. Stem tips root easily when planted in a well-draining soil mix. Seeds are hard to obtain as they are not available commercially. In the house, this vine can be displayed as a hanging basket subject. Due to its climbing habit, it can be trained to scale up a trellis. It is also recommended to be used as a ground cover but I wonder can it survive the heavy tropical rains in Singapore?