The Unique Succulent That Will Add Interest To Your Garden Design

Creating beautiful garden designs isn't just about adding a lot of colorful flowers, it's also about combining different textures and shapes. Luckily, succulents are remarkably good at bringing distinctive textures to gardens. One must-have succulent for growers in warmer regions is the stunning string of dolphins (Senecio peregrinus) plant. 

While string of dolphins have long been appreciated as unique-looking houseplants, gardeners in zones 10 and higher can also grow them outdoors as perennials. Gardeners in colder zones can also join the fun as long as they grow them in containers so they can easily be brought inside for winter. With leaves the shape of dolphins, these cute trailing plants are perfect for adding to hanging baskets or allowing to trail over the sides of garden beds and walls. Like many succulents, they're also ideal for adding to water-wise gardens, if you've decided to jump on the xeriscaping trend to help your garden during a drought. 

Native to South America, string of dolphins require temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit to thrive. They, like many succulents, grow well in cactus soil, and while they do require occasional watering during dry periods, be sure not to overwater them. String of dolphins grow well in part sun locations and in dappled shade. If you do need to bring your succulent in for the winter, be sure to carefully harden off your plant so it isn't shocked by the change in temperature and light conditions. 

While string of dolphins are beautiful enough with just their unique leaf shapes, they also boast beautiful cinnamon-scented white flowers. If you want to follow the classic formula for designing container gardens, string of dolphins can make perfect spiller elements. Just be sure to pair them with thriller and filler plants that have similar soil preferences. This could include other succulents like hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) and echeverias.