Senecio Candicans 'Angel Wings'
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Angel Wings Senecio / Angel Wings Sea Cabbage / Angel Wings
Botanical Name: Senecio candicans 'Angel wings'
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: Patagonia, southern South America (Chile/Argentina)
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial (succulent foliage)
Overview
A striking silver foliage plant for Adelaide/South Australia, Senecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’ forms soft, velvety clumps that glow in sun and brighten coastal or courtyard plantings. Small yellow daisies may appear in summer, but it’s chiefly grown for its bold, tactile leaves; remove flower spikes to keep foliage pristine. Thrives in free-draining soils and hates winter wet.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 0.3–0.5 m H × 0.3–0.6 m W (clump-forming)
- Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Large, rounded, silvery/white, velvety leaves with gentle teeth; superb year-round contrast
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Flowers: Small yellow clusters in summer; often removed to maintain leaf quality
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen silver structure year-round; brightest in cooler months
- Wildlife Value: Flowers (if allowed) offer nectar/pollen for insects
- Tolerance: Drought and coastal tolerant once established; light frost to about –8 to –10 °C if kept dry; avoid waterlogging (especially in winter)
- Planting Density: Mass: 3–5 plants per m²; borders: space 40–60 cm apart
- Pet Friendly: No — Senecio spp. contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids; ingestion can harm pets/livestock
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun to light part shade (provide afternoon shade in hottest inland spots to reduce leaf scorch)
- Soil: Free-draining sandy/loam; excellent in raised beds or large pots; improve heavy clay and keep crowns dry over winter
- Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; very little in winter if soils stay dry
- Maintenance: Mulch in spring; remove flower stems and any tatty leaves; protect from prolonged winter wet; slow-release feed in early spring
- Lifespan: Perennial; often 5–10+ years in well-drained SA gardens/containers
- Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal areas; give light frost protection in colder Hills pockets
- Soil pH: Acid, neutral or alkaline (broadly tolerant)
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Mass in coastal or gravel gardens for a silver ribbon along paths and edges
- Statement foliage in large pots; pairs well with blues/purples (salvia, westringia)
- Contrast plant in mixed beds with strappy greens (lomandra) and dark leaves
Why You Will Love It
Instant, luminous silver foliage with almost no fuss. ‘Angel Wings’ stays compact, drought-tolerant and coast-ready in Adelaide—delivering year-round contrast and luxurious texture without heavy watering or pruning.