Native records: 1 botanical areas
Cape Provinces
See all areasNatural distribution
Explore mapNativeIntroducedUncertain
Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.
Last updated:
Distribution last verified:
A creeping succulent vine in the daisy family (Asteraceae), known for its round bead-like leaves arranged along trailing stems, native to the dry regions of southwestern South Africa and grown worldwide as a houseplant.
Description
A creeping, perennial succulent vine producing long, thin trailing stems that can exceed one metre in length and often cascade from hanging containers. The stems are covered in small, spherical fleshy leaves approximately 5mm in diameter, arranged like pearls on a necklace. Leaves are bright green with a slight window or groove. Each leaf is a water-storing tissue adapted to arid conditions. White composite flowers appear from autumn to winter, with numerous red filaments and yellow anthers. Seeds have a cottony pappus and are wind-dispersed. Stems root where they touch the ground, forming dense mats.
Habitat
Native to dry rocky habitats and gravelly areas in the Cape region of southwestern South Africa. Inhabits semi-arid climates, growing in rock crevices, cliff edges, and under the partial shade of shrubs where intense direct sunlight is mitigated. Requires excellent drainage and is adapted to drought conditions.
Distribution areas
South Africa
- Cape ProvincesNative
Climate of the native range
The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.
- BWh Arid, desert, hot
- BSk Arid, steppe, cold
- BWk Arid, desert, cold
- Cfb Temperate, no dry season, warm summer
The same climate occurs in 65 areas worldwide, 64 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map
A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).
Other names
String of pearls、String of beads
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Curio
Other species in Curio
- Curio crassulifoliusBlue Fingers
- Curio ficoidesBlue Chalkstick
- Curio hallianus
- Curio herreanusGooseberry Plant
- Curio muirii
- Curio ovoideus
- Curio pinguifolius
- Curio pondoensis
- Curio radicansBaboon Toes
- Curio repensBlue Chalksticks
- Curio sulcicalyxNecklace Daisy
- Curio talinoidesBluestraws
Sources
World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04
South Africa · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv
Open source
Image information
Photograph of Curio rowleyanus
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova · CC BY-SA 4.0 · File page