Senecio haworthii

Cocoon Plant, Wooly Senecio

This fuzzy succulent can be hard to find, but is wonderful in any arrangement! It has cylindrical, white leaves that look like cocoons. Its leaves grow from woody stems and form little shrubs.

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Quick Look:

Full sun to partial shade
Can be grown indoors if given enough light
Typical water needs for a succulent
Plant grows up to 12″ (30.5 cm) tall

Plant grows up to 24″ (61 cm) wide
Zone 10a (Minimum 30° F | -1.1° C)
Not cold hardy
Propagation by leaves and stem cuttings
Can be toxic to animals
Actively grows in Spring and Fall

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Care and Propagation Information

General Care for Senecio haworthii “Cocoon Plant”

Senecio haworthii “Cocoon Plant” or “Wooly Senecio” does well in container gardens. Its color comes from the tiny white hairs covering the leaves.

Watering

Senecio haworthii has average watering needs for a succulent. It’s best to use the “soak and dry” method, and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

Where to Plant

“Cocoon Plant” is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 30° F (-1.1° C), it’s best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. It does well in full to partial sun.

Plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. If planting indoors, place in a room that gets a lot of sunlight, such as near a southern-facing window (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere).

Pairs Well With

Senecio barbertonicus ‘Himalaya’

How to Propagate Senecio haworthii “Cocoon Plant”

Leaves

“Cocoon Plant” propagates extremely well from leaves.

When taking a leaf for propagation, gently twist the leaf from the stem. Be sure that the leaf you get is a “clean pull,” where no part of the leaf is left on the stem. This will give you a better chance of a successful propagation.

Allow the leaf to callous over for a day or two before placing it on well-draining soil.

Cuttings

To grow Senecio haworthii from cuttings, use a sterile, sharp knife or pair of scissors. Remove a stem from the main plant, and allow it to callous for several days before placing on well-draining soil. Water whenever the soil has dried out completely.

Uses

The Afrikaans name for “Cocoon Plant” is “Tontelbos”, meaning “tinderbush”. The white coating of the leaves was removed and used as tinder for starting fires.