Senecio Jacobsenii, Trailing jade, Weeping jade, Vining jade, Notoniopsis Petraea also known as Kleinia Petraea, is a creeping succulent plant from the Asteraceae or Compositae family. Native to Kenya and Tanzania, the plant is often confused with jade plants (Crassula Jades). But, the two are unrelated. It was reclassified and incorporated into the Kleinia genus.

Senecio is a Latin word meaning old man, referring to the hairy parts of the plant’s flowers. In contrast, Jacobsenii refers to a Danish professor Niels Jacobsen who was a specialist in succulent plants.

Senecio Jacobsenii’s resemblance with the jade plant and its growth habit has earned it the following common names:

Trailing jade, Weeping jade, Vining jade, Notoniopsis Petraea.

Size & Growth
Featuring succulent, thick stems and flat, egg-shaped leaves, trailing jade displays a creeping growth habit, forming a network of roots as it spreads along the ground. The leaves are green, fleshy, and grow up to 3” inches. They are arranged along the stems in an overlapping pattern, somewhat like shingles.

In addition to adding texture and visual interest to your garden, Senecio jacobsenii also adds a pop of color to an otherwise dull winter garden with purple/maroon leaves and bright orange flowers.

Although weeping jade is a creeping groundcover, its leaves and flower stand upright on the stems.

When grown in hanging baskets, the plant can form a long and dense cascade of up to 4’ feet long.

Weeping jade makes a striking groundcover.

It also makes a great display in a hanging basket or as a window box specimen in containers and hence, is ideal for full sun balconies, terraces, and patios, as well as for growing indoors; it makes an excellent houseplant.

The plant looks particularly beautiful during the bloom time.