Kingdom Plantae Tribe Senecioneae Scientific name Senecio barbertonicus Rank Species | Order Asterales Genus Senecio Higher classification Ragworts | |
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Similar Ragworts, Senecio kleiniiformis, Daisy family, Senecio crassissimus, Achillea ageratifolia | ||
The Barberton groundsel or succulent bush senecio (Senecio barbertonicus ) is an evergreen succulent shrub of the family Asteraceae and genus Senecio, native to Southern Africa, named after one of its native localities Barberton and is now also being cultivated elsewhere for its drought resistance, clusters of sweetly scented, golden yellow, tufted flower heads in winter and attractiveness to butterflies, the Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) in particular.
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Description
A succulent bush growing over 6 feet (2 m) tall and wide with a fleshy trunk, light green, cylindrical, finger-like leaves 2 inches (5 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) in length and 0.2 inches (0.51 cm) to 0.4 inches (1.0 cm) in diameter, densely packed around the stem and curved at the base to lie parallel to the stem and pointing upwards.
The fragrant yellow flowers, 0.4 inches (1.0 cm) wide and 3 inches (7.6 cm) long, bloom July through September, are terminal and produce seeds with a dense tuft of bristles.
Senecio barbertonicus is hardy to at least 25 °F (−4 °C).
Distribution
Senecio barbertonicus grows predominantly in rocky grassland and bushveld in Southern Africa in areas ranging from Swaziland and Mozambique, to Eastern parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa at altitudes between 110 feet (34 m) and 5,500 feet (1,700 m).
It is locally common in protected areas in eastern, central, and southwestern Swaziland in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North-West.
