Plant library · Succulents & Cacti
Curio rowleyanus
String of Pearls is a low, trailing succulent grown for its bead-like foliage and cascading outline. At roughly 6 inches tall, it reads best from an elevated container, shelf, wall pocket, or raised edge where the stems can fall freely. Curio rowleyanus is perennial in mild climates, but its compact crown and trailing habit also make it useful as a movable container plant.
Place it where the trailing growth is visible rather than buried among upright foliage. A hanging basket or elevated pot near a bright window, covered porch, or raised planter edge gives the stems clear airspace and keeps them out of the way of routine circulation. Keep the container rim back from a path edge so trailing strands do not reach into walking space, and allow open space below instead of crowding the plant against a wall or larger pot.
Set multiple plants 1 foot apart, center to center, when creating a close planting or filling a broad, shallow container. That planting interval marks the crown positions; individual plants can spread about 2 feet wide as stems trail outward. In beds, reserve the full trailing footprint on the open side of the planting, rather than placing it beside a narrow path, step, or low plant that would be covered by the spill.
Give String of Pearls partial sun or bright, indirect indoor light, with a free-draining cactus-style mix for container growing. Keep water use light and let the root zone dry between waterings; persistently damp, poorly drained media can lead to stem and root rot. Protect the foliage from harsh direct sun that can scorch the leaves, especially in a sunny window or exposed outdoor container.[1][2]
Spring is the bloom season, though the trailing foliage remains the main planning feature through the year. Leave enough open space around the container or bed edge for the stems to remain visible when flowers appear, rather than relying on a brief bloom display to carry the planting.
Use outdoor plantings only where winter conditions suit zones 9 through 11. Elsewhere, plan it as a container that can be moved indoors before frost. Avoid positions exposed to cold drafts, and do not place it in a heavy, moisture-holding bed where drainage is difficult to control.[1][2]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.