Burro's tail

Sun

Bright filtered light or gentle morning sun; protect from harsh afternoon sun, especially in hot Australian and southern US gardens. Indoors, use a bright window and introduce direct sun gradually.

Water

Let the potting mix dry thoroughly between waterings, then water deeply and let it drain. Water much less in winter, particularly in cool conditions.

Soil

A sharply draining cactus mix with added pumice, grit or perlite, in a container with drainage holes.

Height

4-6 in (0.1-0.15 m) above the pot rim; trailing stems can reach 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Small pink to reddish flowers at stem tips, usually in summer; flowering is uncommon indoors.

Foliage

Evergreen. Plump, pointed, blue-green leaves tightly overlap along trailing stems. A pale, powdery coating covers the leaves, which detach very easily when touched.

Growth

Slow to moderate in warm, bright conditions.

Care needed

Low

• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.4 ft (0.13 m)

   full size

About 8 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Use a pot with drainage holes and empty any saucer after watering.
• Wait until the potting mix is dry throughout before watering again.
• Feed lightly with a diluted cactus fertiliser once or twice during spring and summer.
• Keep above freezing; bring outdoor pots under cover before cold nights arrive.
• Handle as little as possible and keep hanging stems away from busy paths.

Pruning. In spring or early summer, shorten overly long or bare stems with clean scissors, cutting just above a leaf or side shoot. Remove dead stems carefully and keep healthy cuttings for propagation.

Spring

Check drainage and repot only if needed, handling the stems gently to limit leaf loss.

Late spring

Move pots outdoors once nights are reliably mild, gradually introducing brighter light.

Summer

Water thoroughly when the mix dries out and give a light feed during active growth.

Summer

Take stem or leaf cuttings and check sheltered leaf joints for mealybugs.

Autumn

Bring plants into a bright, frost-free position before cold weather and reduce watering.

Winter

Keep in the brightest suitable position and water sparingly; do not feed.

• Hang in a sheltered courtyard where the long stems form a curtain over the pot edge.
• Place in a tall, simple container to show off the blue-green foliage.
• Use at the edge of a mixed succulent container with upright plants that share its drainage needs.
• Display on a bright indoor shelf away from passing hands and pets.

Garden styles it suits: Modern, Modern courtyard, Desert modern, Mediterranean, Urban city garden and Small-space.

Plant it with: Haworthia, Gasteria, Echeveria and Jade plant.

Wildlife: Flowers may attract small insect visitors when plants bloom outdoors, but this is not a major wildlife-supporting plant.

• Root or stem rot: prevent standing water and prolonged wet soil; remove rotten material and root healthy stem tips in fresh, dry-draining mix.
• Mealybugs: isolate the plant, dab visible insects with a cotton bud lightly moistened with rubbing alcohol, and repeat inspections; test a small area first.
• Leaf drop: avoid brushing or moving the stems unnecessarily; sudden heavy shedding can also follow overwatering or cold damage.
• Scorched or stretched growth: introduce direct sun gradually to prevent pale, burned patches; move thin, widely spaced growth into brighter light.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as poisonous, but it is not a food plant, and eating it may cause mild stomach upset.

• Burrito (Sedum burrito)

  Has shorter, rounder leaves with blunt ends rather than the longer, pointed leaves of burro's tail; it is also sold as Sedum morganianum 'Burrito'.

• String of bananas (Curio radicans)

  Has curved, banana-shaped leaves spaced along slender stems, rather than densely overlapping, plump leaves.

Burro's tail refers to the long, densely leafed stems resembling a donkey's tail; burro is Spanish for donkey.

Propagation. Propagate from stem cuttings or detached leaves in spring or summer. Let cut surfaces dry and callus for several days, then set stem cuttings into sharply draining mix or lay intact leaves on its surface. Keep in bright indirect light and avoid wet conditions while roots develop.

Accepted botanical name

Sedum morganianum

Native range

Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf and Mexico Southeast.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.