Woolly Senecio Caputia

Caputia scaposa is native to South Africa. It grows on sandstone ledges of sheer cliffs or rocky hills, mainly in quartzitic, sandstone-derived soils from Badspoort in Klein Karoo in the Western Cape to the Great Kei River in the Eastern Cape.

Caputia scaposa, formerly known as Senecio scaposus, is a small, nearly stemless succulent that forms tight rosettes of fleshy, bright green leaves with silvery-white, woolly covering. It can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall. The leaves are upright, bean-like, and can measure up to 4 inches (10 cm) long.

The showy flower heads are yellow, daisy-like, and can reach a diameter of up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm). They appear in summer on branched stalks that can grow up to 18 inches (45 cm) long.

Established Senecios are extremely drought tolerant. They need some water during the summer but do not leave the soil wet for prolonged periods. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings in winter when the plants are somewhat dormant. Since they are growing in sandy soil, nutrients need to be replenished. Fertilize annually, but lightly. Too much fertilizer will cause a lot of leggy growth.

Taller varieties can get floppy. You can prune them back to where the stem is firm in early spring. You can even root the cuttings.