Curio articulatus in summer without leaves

Curio articulatus is known in Afrikaans among other things as sosatieplakkie (little kebab flip flops(!)). It grows green succulent stem segments looking like a string of little sausages or large beads, caused by the intermittent constrictions separating them.

These grey-green stems have purplish markings resembling crow’s feet or M-shaped McDonald’s logos spread over them. On the next plant the markings may be different, even darker or completely absent.

The stems branch, old plants becoming untidy clumps. Slightly succulent and lobed green leaves grow from nodes at stem segments and tips.

The plant is deciduous in summer, a winter grower. Small white daisy flowers appear in winter on long terminal (stem tip) stalks.

This plant is established in horticulture as a rockery and container item. Sections of the stems can be separated and planted as cuttings (www.mercurynews.com).