Blue chalk sticks (Curio talinoides var. mandraliscae, also sold as Senecio) is an evergreen succulent ground cover from South Africa with silvery blue, finger-shaped leaves. It suits sunny, well-drained Sydney garden beds, rockeries, pots and slopes where you want a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant carpet.
This guide covers sizes, varieties, planting, care and common problems for the blue chalk stick plant in Australian gardens.
Key points
- Blue chalk sticks usually reach about 20 to 40 cm tall and spread 60 cm or more (indicative — check the plant label), so allow room for a spreading mat.
- They need full sun and sharp drainage; they rot in heavy clay and wet winter soil, so use raised beds or sandy mix in western Sydney.
- Maintenance is very low: water lightly, trim straggly stems in spring and take cuttings to fill gaps.
- Watch-out: the plant is commonly listed as toxic to pets and people if eaten, and it spreads readily into lawns and neighbouring beds.
Blue chalk sticks at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Curio talinoides var. mandraliscae (previously Senecio mandraliscae and Senecio serpens) |
| Plant type | Evergreen succulent ground cover |
| Mature size | About 20 to 40 cm tall, 60 cm or more wide (indicative — check the plant label) |
| Sun | Full sun; tolerates light afternoon shade |
| Soil | Free-draining sandy or gritty soil; poor soil is fine |
| Water | Low once established; let the soil dry between waterings |
| Frost tolerance | Light frosts only; protect from heavy frost in the Blue Mountains and cooler western suburbs |
| Flowering season | Small white flowers in summer, often hidden among the foliage |
| Native? | No, it is a South African exotic |
Types of blue chalk sticks and similar succulents
Garden centres sell a few similar plants under overlapping names, so check the botanical name on the label.
| Plant | Size | Best use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue chalksticks (Curio talinoides var. mandraliscae) | About 20 to 40 cm tall (indicative — check the plant label) | Ground cover, rockeries, slopes | Silvery blue fingers; the standard form |
| Blue finger plant | About 20 to 40 cm tall (indicative — check the plant label) | Pots and borders | Another common name for the same plant |
| Curio repens | About 20 to 30 cm tall (indicative — check the plant label) | Pots, courtyards | Slightly more upright and blue-white |
| Other named chalksticks selections | About 30 to 40 cm tall (indicative — check the plant label) | Feature planting | Colour and habit vary; ask your nursery |
| Blue chalk stick succulent in pots | Trails over the rim | Balconies, courtyards | Needs a pot with good drainage holes |
| Chalk stick plants in mass planting | Spreads into a mat | Large beds, banks | Plant in drifts for a continuous blue carpet |
Where to plant blue chalk sticks in Sydney
- Choose a sunny, open spot that gets at least six hours of direct sun, because shade makes the leaves green and the stems leggy.
- Space plants about 30 to 40 cm apart (indicative — check the plant label) so they knit into a mat within a year or two.
- Avoid heavy clay in western Sydney unless you mound the bed with coarse sand and gravel for fast drainage.
- Sandy coastal soils on the Northern Beaches suit blue chalk sticks well, as long as you mix in a little compost so the roots do not dry out in a heatwave.
- Grow them in shallow pots, bowls or raised planters, using cactus and succulent mix and a pot with drainage holes.
- Keep them away from lawn edges unless you install a barrier, because stems root where they touch soil and creep into turf.
How to plant blue chalk sticks
- Plant in spring or autumn, when the soil is mild and the plants can root before summer heat or winter cold.
- Remove weeds and rocks, then fork the bed over to the depth of a spade.
- Mix in coarse sand or fine gravel if the soil is heavy, and avoid rich compost, which holds too much moisture.
- Dig a hole slightly wider than the pot and set the plant at the same depth it grew in the pot.
- Backfill, firm gently and water once to settle the roots, then leave the soil to dry out.
- Mulch with pebbles or gravel rather than organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems to prevent rot.
- Water sparingly for the first few weeks, following Sydney Water’s Water Wise Guidelines and watering before 10 am or after 4 pm.
Caring for blue chalk sticks
Established plants thrive on neglect, and most failures come from overwatering. Sandstone and sandy soils around Sydney often need less water than you expect.
| Task | When | How |
|---|---|---|
| Watering | Year-round, as needed | Water deeply but rarely, and let the soil dry between drinks; use a hand-held hose with an instant on-off trigger nozzle or drip irrigation. |
| Feeding | Spring | Use a slow-release fertiliser registered for succulents or natives and follow the label; the plants usually need little. |
| Mulching | Spring | Spread a thin layer of gravel and keep it off the stems. |
| Pruning | Spring | Trim straggly stems back to a healthy node and keep the clippings out of lawn and garden beds. |
| Propagating | Spring to summer | Pot up cuttings in gritty mix; they root easily and fill gaps quickly. |
| Pest and disease watch | Spring to autumn | Look for mealybug and snails; for infestations, see a pest controller rather than mixing sprays. |
Using blue chalk sticks as a ground cover
Blue chalk sticks make a striking low ground cover on sunny banks, beside paths and under open-canopy trees.
- Plant in drifts of five or more for a carpet effect, using odd numbers for a natural look.
- Pair with grey foliage plants, lavender and native grasses for a drought-tolerant colour scheme.
- Use them on slopes to hold soil, planting through weed mat only if you cut a cross for each plant.
- Trim edges every spring to keep paths clear and stop stems creeping into lawn.
- Wear gloves when handling and pruning, and wash your hands afterwards.
- Lift and replant crowded patches in autumn, discarding any tired, woody growth.
Common blue chalk sticks problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow, mushy leaves | Overwatering or poor drainage | Stop watering, improve drainage and replant in gritty mix. |
| Green, floppy stems | Too much shade | Move to full sun or cut back neighbouring plants. |
| Leaves lose their blue colour | Low light or too much fertiliser | Increase sun and stop feeding. |
| Bare, woody centre | Age and lack of pruning | Trim back in spring and replace tired stems with cuttings. |
| Brown, mushy tips in winter | Frost or cold, wet soil | Protect from heavy frost and keep soil dry. |
| Plant spreading into lawn | Stems rooting where they touch soil | Install an edge and trim back each spring. |
FAQ: blue chalk sticks questions
Are blue chalk sticks the same as blue chalksticks?
Yes. Blue chalk sticks, blue chalksticks, blue finger plant and chalk stick plants all describe Curio talinoides var. mandraliscae, a blue succulent ground cover. Check the botanical name on the label, because nurseries still sell it under the old Senecio name.
Is blue chalk sticks a succulent ground cover?
Yes. It is an evergreen succulent that spreads by stems rooting where they touch the soil. It forms a low mat in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a popular ground cover for slopes, rockeries and dry beds in Sydney.
How much sun does a blue chalk stick plant need?
Full sun is best, with at least six hours a day. Shade makes the foliage green and floppy. In hot western Sydney summers, light afternoon shade is fine, but avoid wet, shady spots where the plant is likely to rot.
Are blue chalk sticks toxic to pets?
Plants in this group are commonly listed as toxic to pets and people if eaten, and owners commonly report stomach upsets. Keep pets away from the plant. If your pet eats any, contact your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline straight away.
Next step: keep your ground cover beds tidy
If you would rather hand over the trimming and bed maintenance, we can help. Sydney gardeners typically charge about $52 to $115 per hour (October 2026), and a half-day garden clean-up costs about $170 to $460. Read our ground cover plants guide for more options, or request a quote for your Sydney garden.
