Senecio barbertonicus, the Barberton groundsel[3]
or succulent bush senecio,[4] is an evergreen succulent shrub of the familyAsteraceae and genusSenecio, native to Southern Africa,[2] named after one of its native localities Barberton and is now also being cultivated elsewhere for its drought resistance, clusters of sweetly scented,[4] golden-yellow, tufted flower heads in winter and attractiveness to butterflies,[3] the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) in particular.[5]
Description
A succulent bush growing over 2 m (6 ft) tall and wide with a fleshy trunk, light green, cylindrical, finger-like leaves 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) in length and 6 to 10 mm (1⁄4 to 3⁄8 in) in diameter, densely packed around the stem and curved at the base to lie parallel to the stem and pointing upwards.[6]
The fragrant yellow flowers, 1 cm (3⁄8 in) wide and 8 cm (3 in) long, bloom July through September,[4] are terminal and produce seeds with a dense tuft of bristles.
Senecio barbertonicus is hardy to at least −4 °C (25 °F).[5]
^"Senecio barbertonicus Klatt". Swaziland's Flora Database. South African National Botanical Institute (PRECIS database) and the Swaziland National Herbarium. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
^ ab"Senecio barbertonicus Klatt". African Flowering Plants Database. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2008-02-27.