Your tulips are dying off but your geraniums haven’t budded yet – so what do you do during this transitional period? Wait for summer? No! Fill in the gaps with Senetti!
A colourful ‘inbetweener’ plant, Senetti is a type of Pericallis (formerly called Senecio, but which has now been reclassified), which is a family of flowering plants native to the Canary Islands, Madeira and Azores. So, it’s no wonder why you might get a Mediterranean vibe from these plants!
Senetti is perfect for a pop of Mediterranean-style colour in your pots, balcony containers, window boxes, rockeries and borders – and anywhere that might need filling in if it’s looking a bit scarce between now and the height of summer.
There’s a whopping 30 different colours in the range – so there’s something for every preference. The range even includes colour-changing plants, which transform in hue as the season progresses. Magic!
Is Senetti easy to grow?
Yes! Senetti are very easy to grow and maintain. All you need to remember is that they should be planted in a position that is out of full sunlight, and they need to be well watered as they’re super thirsty.
These plants are not only easy to care for, they’re also durable for this in-between season. They’re hardy down to 2 degrees Celsius, and can stand hot temperatures up to 30 degrees Celsius. Flowering from March to July, they’re ideal for that period where your violas and primula begin to fade away, but before your asters and salvia come through.
In terms of pruning, you can either deadhead the blooms individually, or wait until the entire plant has finished flowering and cut it back for a second flush.
Can you grow Senetti indoors?
Need a bit of colour in your home? You can also grow Senetti as a houseplant! Just place it in indirect light and water it regularly, but don’t let it get waterlogged. Put it in a container with good drainage to stop this from happening.
Where to buy Senetti
Senetti is available all over Europe from a wide range of retailers. Click here to find out where you can get your hands on these eye-catching plants!
Which shade of Senetti takes your fancy? Let me know in the comments below!
Michael has been involved with gardening and plants since he was just five years old. He is a self-professed Plant Geek, and was listed in the Sunday Times top 20 most influential people in the gardening world, thanks to his plant hunter role at Thompson & Morgan.
Michael was responsible for new plant introductions such as the Egg and Chips plant and the FuchsiaBerry and keeps busy travelling the world in search of new plants as well as lecturing worldwide, including stints in Japan. He is very active on social media – so why not give him a follow at @mr_plantgeek or Facebook – and writes a plant-focused Substack called Grow This, Not That.
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