Introduction

“Succulent senecios” are members of the daisy family (Asteraceae, tribe Senecioneae) that store water in fleshy leaves or stems. Botanically, many of the best-known succulent species once placed in Senecio have been reassigned to close relatives—especially Curio, Kleinia, Caputia, and Dendrosenecio—yet horticulture still uses the old Senecio names. In practice, databases and plant tags often list both, treating the newer combinations as synonymous with Senecio. Note that Senecio sensu stricto also includes many non-succulent daisies and herbs; the “succulent senecios” are a subset representing convergent adaptations to arid or seasonal dryness.

The Details

How to read the names
Current names are shown first, followed by common Senecio synonyms (syn.).

Trailing / “string” types (mostly Curio)

Curio rowleyanus (syn. Senecio rowleyanus) — string of pearls: spherical leaves with a translucent window.
Curio radicans (syn. S. radicans) — string of bananas: curved, banana-like leaves.
Curio herreanus (syn. S. herreianus) — string of tears: elongated beads with a window/stripe.
Curio articulatus (syn. S. articulatus) — candle/hot-dog plant: segmented, glaucous cylinders; leaves seasonal.
Curio × peregrinus — trade “string of dolphins” (often labeled Senecio).

Chalksticks & shrubby forms (Curio)

Curio repens/serpens (sold as S. serpens) — blue chalksticks: low, powder-blue, fingerlike leaves.
Curio talinoides forms (sold as S. mandraliscae) — taller, shrubby blue chalksticks.
Curio crassissimus (syn. S. crassissimus) — upright shoots with flat, vertical leaves edged purple.

Columnar / oddities (Kleinia)

Kleinia stapeliiformis (syn. S. stapeliiformis) — pickle plant: mottled, ribbed, leafless stems; bright daisies.
Kleinia neriifolia (syn. S. kleinia) — Canary Islands shrub with jointed, water-storing stems.

Woolly silver shrubs (Caputia)

Caputia tomentosa (syn. Senecio haworthii) — cocoon plant: dense white felt on short columnar leaves.

Giant alpine pachycauls (Dendrosenecio)

Dendrosenecio spp. — East African “tree groundsels,” rosette-topped, water-storing trunks (formerly Senecio).

What makes them succulent—and what doesn’t
These lineages evolved water-storage tissues, thick waxy cuticles, reduced or seasonal leaves, CAM-leaning physiologies in some cases, and compact or pachycaul architectures—solutions to arid coasts, deserts, or high alpine nights. By contrast, many Senecio species are non-succulent herbs or shrubs; “succulent senecios” refers specifically to the water-storing clades above.

Naming note (synonymy you’ll see)
Expect dual labeling across books, tags, and databases: accepted names may be Curio, Kleinia, Caputia, or Dendrosenecio, while the older Senecio names are widely retained and treated as synonyms. If you share a photo or tag, I can map it to the current name alongside its Senecio synonym.

Additionaly Reading: GROWTH RATES IN THE GIANT ROSETTE PLANTS