Variegated Natal ivy (Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’)

Variegated Natal ivy (Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’) is a climber that can grow 1.5m – 3m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Variegated Natal ivy (Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’).

This plant is commonly known as variegated Natal ivy.

This is a evergreen plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: variegated Natal ivy
Scientific name: Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’
Plant type: Climbers, Houseplants
Habit: Climbing
Height: 1.5m – 3m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Well drained
Garden type: Patio & Container Garden
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit

Seasonal colors

How to plant Variegated Natal ivy (Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’) – Wouter Hagens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Versatile and decorative, climbing plants can make great contributions to creative garden designs.

Their rambunctious branches complement other plants and adorn structures with flowers and foliage.

Climbers are often used as a backdrop for other plants or are grown on pergolas to provide shade and height for the garden.

You can also create focal points by interweaving them through trees, pyramids and pillars, or train them on a trellis to form partitions between different areas of the garden.

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Variegated Natal ivy (Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Variegated Natal ivy (Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in chalk, loam or sand.

• The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’ likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.

Sunlight

Variegated Natal ivy (Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Variegated Natal ivy (Senecio macroglossus ‘Variegatus’) – Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons