Rare “Mermaid Tail” Succulents Bring Sea-Inspired Magic to House Plants

 

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A post shared by Miin Liew (@succulentcraze) on Dec 20, 2019 at 1:04pm PST

Of all the varieties of plants in the world, succulents have to be one of the most playful. Their bulbous leaves often resemble something other than a plant. From hearts to rabbits to dolphins, succulents never cease to amaze us with how their buds can appear. If you’re someone who is a succulent superfan, you’ll want to add this “mermaid tail” variety to your plant family. Comprising a cactus-like paddle with some spikey (yet soft) stalks atop them, this plant looks like something out of an aquatic fairytale.

The technical name for mermaid tail succulents is crested senecio vitalis. The variety is a mutation of senecio vitalis, aka “narrow-leaf chalksticks” succulents that are native to the eastern cape of South Africa. Like other succulents, this type of plant is not only stunning, but it's also easy to grow. It does well in sandy environments with light shade and can survive long dry periods (which is good news if you forget to water it).

Mermaid tail succulents can be a challenge to find, as their mutation is natural and can’t be reproduced by humans. Your best bet is to look for them on Etsy, where independent sellers are pricing them like a collector’s item.

The rare “mermaid tail succulents” look like something that comes from under the sea.

 

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A post shared by Joe Rockwell (@succulentzoo) on Jul 7, 2020 at 11:29am PDT

 

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A post shared by Succulent Life (@succulent.life_) on Jun 25, 2020 at 12:33pm PDT

 

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A post shared by 🐶🌏🍦🍰🍚🍴🍫💪🍑🎶🔬✈️🌱 (@joyce_vspr) on Jun 5, 2020 at 6:30pm PDT

 

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A post shared by Blanquitas Plantitas (@blanquitasplantitas) on Jul 14, 2020 at 7:56pm PDT

 

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A post shared by Blanquitas Plantitas (@blanquitasplantitas) on Jul 15, 2020 at 11:18am PDT

 

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A post shared by 🌿Trejo Brothers Succulents🌵 (@trejo_brothers19) on Jun 29, 2020 at 4:01pm PDT

 

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A post shared by @gardenpigeon on May 18, 2020 at 10:23am PDT

 

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A post shared by Blanquitas Plantitas (@blanquitasplantitas) on Jul 14, 2020 at 8:13pm PDT

h/t: [POPSUGAR]

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