Blue chalksticks - Inland Valley Garden Planner

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Blue chalksticks — <em>Senecio serpens</em>

Description

This small spreading succulent brings the color blue into garden plantings in bold and attractive ways. Foliage is comprised of short cylindrical stems; it commonly reaches 6-8 in. high and can spread 1-2 ft. wide. and more.

Blue chalksticks is a ground hugging plant that draws attention and creates special interest throughout garden spaces. It easily flows around rocks, spills out of containers and mixes well with Mediterranean and southwestern plantings alike. Good drainage, full sun and low amounts of summer water provide best results. Small white flowers add modest interest in summer.

Water Needs

Blue chalksticks is well adapted to all parts of the Inland Empire in sunny exposures with normal winter rains and low amounts of summer irrigation. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains often provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates Blue chalksticks can grow with varying amounts of water; little supplemental water is needed during summer.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 1

	Jan*	Feb*	Mar*	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov*	Dec*
Runs per Month	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x
Inches per Run	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"

Inches per Month	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

0"-2"

Jan*

Feb*

Mar*

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov*

Dec*

For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading, Dense, Clumping
Growth Rate: Slow
Height: 6 in. - 8 in.
Width: 1 ft. - 2 ft.
Water Needs: Low 1
Foliage Color: Blue gray
Flower Color: White
Flower Season: Summer
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Wind, Morning sun, Heat, Drought, All day sun, Partial sun
Function: Rock gardens, Residential spaces, Raised planters, Near pools and water features, Mass planting, Grouped, Foliage accent plant, Container plant, Commercial spaces, Borders