Kleinia petraea


Kleinia petraea is a species of flowering plant in the genus Kleinia and family Asteraceae which was previously considered to be a species of Senecio. Native to Kenya and Tanzania, it is colloquially known as creeping jade, trailing jade or weeping jade due to its resemblance to the unrelated Jade plant.

Description

It is a multiple-branched succulent with fleshy stems which sprawl along the soil, thereby forming a system of roots as it spreads on the ground, or hang over the edges. The green leaves are usually speckled with purple, mauve, or brown tinges. The stems grow up to 20 inches long and are approximately 0.3 inches in diameter. Leaves are either erect or spreading, thickened, fleshy, roughly egg-shaped, up to 2.6 inches long, and around 1.3 inches wide.
The bright orange, rayless, composite flowers normally appear on erect, 16 inches tall stalk in autumn or winter.

Cultivation

It is grown as a garden plant as a groundcover or in hanging baskets, and it is very drought tolerant.