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

 

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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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h/t: [POPSUGAR]

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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