Houseplant · Asteraceae
String of Bananas
Curio radicans
Give it bright light, a gritty mix, and unhurried spells between waterings, and string of bananas drapes a living curtain down the wall.
Bright indirect
50–77°F · 10–25°C
USDA 10–11
12–35 in · 30–90 cm
Overview
String of bananas has quietly become a decorator's favorite, a trailing succulent whose banana-shaped leaves spill from the pot in long, easy ropes. It arrives from southern Africa by way of the daisy family, and indoors it settles in fast and asks for very little, which suits a busy home.
Part of its appeal is how self-sufficient it both looks and lives. The plant carries its own water, so it holds a room even when the schedule slips, and the single thing that undoes it is staying too wet. Give it the light, dry rhythm of a desert and it keeps its poise from one season to the next.
Where it really earns its place is up high, cascading from a hanging planter, a floating shelf, or the top of a bookcase where the strands can fall a few feet unbroken. That elevated staging is as practical as it is pretty, since it keeps the foliage out of reach, and that matters because every part is toxic to pets and people if eaten.
Care
The short version: bright indirect light, a gritty cactus mix that drains freely, and a drink only once the top half of the soil has dried. Scale back through winter, and never leave the pot standing in water.
Light
Set it in bright, indirect light, the soft glow a few feet in from a sunny window. It humors a little direct morning sun and a spell of shade, but keep it clear of harsh afternoon rays, which scorch the leaves brown.
Water
Water only when the top half of the soil has dried, then soak it well and let the excess run off. This is a drought-tolerant succulent that resents sitting wet, so through winter hold back almost entirely, adding just enough to spare the leaves from shriveling.
Soil
Choose a gritty, fast-draining cactus or succulent mix that lets water move straight through. Acidity is no concern across pH 6.0 to 8.0, though a heavy, moisture-holding blend around the roots is the one thing it will not abide.
Temperature
Everyday room warmth is ideal, in the range of 50°F to 77°F (10°C to 25°C). Keep it above freezing and clear of cold drafts, since it has no patience for frost.
Humidity
This is a low-humidity plant at ease in ordinary dry rooms. There is no misting to bother with and no target to chase, and damp, stagnant air does it more harm than good.
Feeding
Feed lightly from spring through summer while it is in active growth, about once a month, using a diluted balanced or cactus fertilizer. Let it rest over winter, when its growth eases off.
Pruning
Trim back any leggy or bare stems to keep the drape full, and pinch the tips to shape the silhouette. Save the pieces you remove, since each one will root into a fresh plant.
Repotting
Repot only every 2 to 3 years, or once it is plainly crowded, since it flowers and grows best kept a little snug. The cues are roots venturing through the drainage holes and soil that dries almost the moment it is watered.
Size & spacing
The trailing stems run 12 to 35 inches (30 to 90 cm) long and fall about as far past the rim. Give the display room to hang free from a shelf or basket so the strands stay loose rather than matting together.
Troubleshooting
Almost every complaint this plant registers is a question of water, given too rarely or far too freely, and its leaves broadcast the answer. Read them at a glance. Match the look below to the cause and set it right before a passing flaw settles in.
Mushy, darkening stems that give way at the base
Soft, blackening stems point to root rot, the failure most likely to end the plant, and it follows from water lingering around the roots. Stop watering and let the mix dry through, then lift the plant and pare away all that is brown and soft. Rescue a few firm cuttings and begin again in fresh gritty mix before the rot spreads.
Fix:
- Stop watering and let the mix dry out
- Unpot and cut away rotted roots and stems
- Take healthy stem cuttings and restart in fresh gritty mix
- Repot into fast-draining cactus medium in a pot with drainage
Deflated, wrinkled leaves that have lost their fullness
Slack, wrinkled leaves are a straightforward case of thirst. Each one banks its own water, so when the soil runs entirely dry they pucker and lose their shape. A deep watering until it drains from the base usually restores their fullness within a day or two.
Fix:
- Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom
- Resume watering whenever the top half of the soil is dry
- Ensure the pot has drainage and the mix is not hydrophobic
Brown or reddish cast on the sun-facing side
A brown or reddish cast on the exposed side is sunburn from light pitched too high. The leaves nearest the glass mark first under fierce or afternoon sun. Move the plant into bright indirect light, shield it from the midday peak, then return it to brighter conditions by degrees.
Fix:
- Move to bright indirect light
- Shade from intense afternoon summer sun
- Acclimate gradually before increasing light
Toxicity
For all its easy charm, this is a plant to place with care, well away from animals and above a child's reach. Every part holds pyrrolizidine alkaloids and a milky sap that irritates skin, which makes it unsafe for cats and dogs and a hazard to other animals and people if eaten. Hang it high, and wash your hands once the trimming is done.
Toxic to
Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds · People
Cats Toxic
A cat that chews the stems tends to drool, bring its food back up, and turn away from the bowl. Diarrhea and a listless, sleepy mood usually follow, and a large mouthful can strain the liver.
Dogs Toxic
Dogs respond in much the same way. Look for vomiting, loose stools, drooling, and a weary, off-color dog after it has been sampling the trailing stems.
Horses Toxic
The same pyrrolizidine alkaloids thread through the genus, so a grazing horse can suffer stomach upset, and repeated browsing brings a genuine risk of liver damage over time.
Rabbits Caution
No rabbit-specific findings exist, but the toxin acts across mammals, so treat the plant as off limits. A rabbit that nibbles could end up with an unsettled gut and flagging energy.
Livestock Toxic
Cattle and other grazers are named among those at risk. The alkaloids accumulate with steady browsing and can scar the liver, on top of the nausea and dullness a single feed brings on.
Birds Caution
Birds have not been studied here directly, so keep them clear as a precaution. Between the irritant sap and the alkaloids, there is little reason to think a curious bird would tolerate a bite.
People Caution
No part of this plant is food. Swallowing any of it can leave a person nauseous with an upset stomach, and the milky sap may redden or irritate skin, so wash your hands after pruning.
Wear gloves or wash hands after handling, as the irritant sap can cause contact dermatitis.
Helpline numbers
United States
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (fee applies)
Poison Control: (800) 222-1222
Canada
Poison Centres: 1-844-764-7669
Varieties
The named forms are few, yet one selection turns up often enough to recognize on sight.
Curio radicans 'Fish Hooks'
This selection is grown for its sharply curved, hook-shaped leaves, the very trait that lends it the name string of fishhooks.
How to propagate
Few plants are so generous, and the trimmings you take to keep it looking sharp are precisely the ones that become your next plants.
Stem cuttingsEasy
Spring through summer during active growth · About 2 to 4 weeks to root
Cuttings are the quick, dependable route nearly everyone favors. Take them while the plant is growing in spring or summer, let the cut ends dry and callus for a day, then lay or settle the stems on a gritty, fast-draining mix. Kept lightly moist, they root in about 2 to 4 weeks.
SeedModerate
Spring · Several weeks to months
Seed is an option, though slow and rarely worth the wait beside cuttings. Sow in spring on a fast-draining mix and keep it warm, expecting several weeks to months before the seedlings are ready to pot on.
Myths
The rightful botanical name is Senecio radicans.
Kew's Plants of the World Online has settled the matter, accepting Curio radicans and listing Senecio radicans as a former synonym. The old name lingers on nursery labels wherever it is sold, yet Curio radicans is the name in current use.