General Description/History

Senecio is a large genus with over 1500 species, containing the ragworts and groundsels. Many species have silvery leaves covered in fine hairs. These plants often produce yellow daisy-like flowers in summer, but Silver Suede is a popular foliage crop.

This foliage crop commonly comes in bunches of 5 stems. Each stem is made up of several branches containing soft, silver-green leaves with a prominent white mid-rib. Each leaf has serrated edges with the serrations becoming deeper as you move down the leaf, such that they almost meet the mid-rib at the base. Leaves are covered with fine white hairs and are soft to the touch; a silvery white/green on top and white underneath.

What to look for

• Unblemished leaves. Avoid bunches with rotten leaves or those where the white bloom (silver colour) is fading.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool at all times.
2. Strip any leaves off that would have been submerged. These rot and foul the vase water.
3. Recut at least 2 cm off each stem with sharp secateurs or snips and place in water immediately.
4. Do not bash or split stems.
5. A preservative is optional.
6. Replace vase water with fresh preservative every other day.

Botanical Name: Senecio sp.

Common Names: Dusty Miller, Silver Suede

Stem Length: 30 – 60 cm

Country of Origin: North America

Available Colours: Green, Yellow

Season: Summer,Autumn,Winter,Spring

Availability: May