Strings of Pearls or Senecio rowleyanus is a succulent plants with odd shaped leaves like are almost perfectly round spheres. There is a small point at the tips and a window on the side. This window allows the light to enter the leaf for photosynthesis but protects the cells from extreme heat. The leaf sphere shape allows the most water storage for the surface area. The small white flower is not showy but very fragrant. It can be noticed from over ten feet away with a strong cloves smell. Many desert plants have a strong smell to lure the insects pollinators from longer distances. They are native to South Africa which is full of strange and usual plants.

Light: bright light not full sun. In the wild they grow strings between rocks and other plants to offer some shielding from intense sunlight.

Water: They should be allowed to dry out between waters but not too wet or the roots might rot. You do not want the leave too wilted. If they stay dry too long they will fall to conserve moisture for the plants. Also if they are very wilted and the plant receives water they might crack when the leaves fill up with water.

Fertilizer: If they are being grown is a soilless mix they will need some fertilizer. In the desert the soil are very mineral rich because the soils have not been leached of minerals from constant rains. I would one quarter strength once a month.

Soil: I used a soil mix that was 50% small aquarium gravel, 25% peat moss, and 25% vermiculite.  A pinch of charcoal can be added.

Flowering: Sometime during the cool weather late fall, winter or early spring. The flower is one half to an inch across. A compound flower which looks like a cluster of tiny white lilies with long anthers sticking out the center of each flower. The seeds have cottony filaments attached probably to aid the spread with winds. It pops open like a dandelion.

Propagation: It is usually from rooted cuttings. I have not heard of people using seeds but it is worth a try. I trick is to have a pot sit next to your main plants. Take a string and gently lay in in a circle inside the soil of the pot. Wait until it has rooted on its own and cut the connection. You can also take cutting about one foot long for each pot. Bury the end away from the growing tip removing two to four of the leaves. The new root form at the intersection of the leaf and stem. It is an interesting plant that you don't see everyday in stores.

I wanted to mentions that all parts of this plant are considered poisonous to ingested. You might what to keep these away from pets that would eat them.