The family of stonecrops includes a significant number of species under the genus Sedum (Crassulaceae). A tropical species of sedum known as Sedum morganianum has long been cultivated as an ornamental because of its unusual, evergreen foliage. Due to the pendulous stems’ similarity to an animal’s tail, it goes by numerous common names, including burro’s tail, donkey’s tail (also a traditional name for the hardy perennial Euphorbia myrsinites), horse’s tail, and lamb’s tail. This long-lived sensitive trailing sub-shrub, which is native to southern Mexico and Honduras, is often grown as a houseplant in most of North America because it is hardy only when it is consistently above freezing. It received the 1993 Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
The trailing stalks and succulent, blue-green leaves of this delicate perennial plant have a silvery bloom that rubs off when touched. The stems begin by growing straight before slanting downward and lengthening to four feet; due to the water content of the leaves, they can become rather heavy. The lance-shaped, overlapping, smooth-textured leaves develop in a densely whorled, nearly swirling pattern to completely encircle the stem, giving it a braided-like look. The pointy ends of the short, thick, cylindrical leaves swell to become very plump when plants are adequately watered and will shrivel when conditions are too dry. Because the plant’s stems and leaves are fragile, it should be placed in an area where it won’t be accidentally knocked over or harmed by passing humans or animals. Branch formation may occur where the stems are lacking in leaves. ‘Burrito’ or ‘Baby Burro Tail’ has lime-green leaves that are smaller, more rounded, and on shorter stems—it is uncertain if this refers to a different species, a cultivar, or a hybrid.
Although burro’s tail planted indoors rarely blooms, in the summer terminal clusters of 1-6 flowers on slender pedicels may have tiny but stunning pink to crimson blossoms. The tiny, star-shaped flowers feature plump, lighter pink sepals and vivid yellow stamens. They produce a lot of nectar and entice flies and bees with it. Before the plants may flower, they must be fully grown, with stems that are at least 25 cm long. Moving plants outside in the summer and keeping them at milder temperatures (50°F and 60°F as opposed to room temperature) during the winter may promote flowering.
Burro’s tail grows best in containers where the stems can hang down vertically because of its trailing branches. The pendant stems can be displayed in hanging baskets, urns, or sizable pots on pedestals. Put enough material in a head-shaped container to resemble dreadlocks. Individual plants can live for decades under ideal conditions inside. They can be utilized as temporary hanging plants outdoors in wind-sheltered areas. There are multiple hanging baskets of these plants at Lotusland in Santa Barbara, California, each with a shade cover that gives them the appearance of a gigantic jellyfish.
The optimal conditions for burro’s tail growth are bright light to full sun; in low light, the internodes will be longer and the stems’ leaves won’t be as tightly packed. If the light is too strong, the leaves lose their blue-green color and turn yellowish. It thrives in a growing medium with good drainage, like cactus mix or standard potting soil that has been liberally supplemented with perlite, pumice, baked clay granules, or even fine pea gravel (but not sand, which tends to fill the soil pores and hinder rather than enhance drainage). Only once or twice during the growing season, apply mild fertilizer. Repot in the spring, but only after the plant has completely filled the container. After repotting, wait about a week before watering again, and then water sparingly until the plant is established again. Mealybugs rarely infest the stems of this plant, which has minimal insect problems overall; root rot brought on by excessive watering is the most frequent problem. Wilting or mushy leaves could be a sign of excessive soil moisture.
Being a succulent, it cannot handle being overwatered, especially during the winter when it is dormant. Between waterings, the soil should be given a chance to almost dry out. During the growing season, water often, but less frequently in the fall and only enough during the winter to keep the potting media from drying up entirely. Indoor plants could only require watering once a month, depending on the environment.
In the Midwest, burro’s tail is typically grown as a year-round houseplant, but if the weather consistently rises above 40°F, the plants can be transferred outside for the growing season. They must gradually get used to the light circumstances outside to avoid being sunburned. In the fall, bring the plants back inside when it’s expected that the nightly low would be 40°F. Cuttings of stems or leaves can be used to easily propagate Sedum morganianum. Individual leaves cut from the stem will produce roots, but it will take more time to regenerate a plant of significant size than from stem cuttings. To root stem cuttings, push the stem ends down into the rooting media after removing the leaves from the lower end of the cut stem and letting it dry for a day or two. In order to keep long or heavy stem cuttings in place while the roots grow enough, they may need to be pinned or staked. Plants may not begin to root successfully for several months. You can also grow this species from seeds or divisions.
How can you make a donkey tail bloom?
Burro’s tail adores the brilliant shade or moderate sun. This alluring succulent adores the four hours of bright light. Remember that it will get burned by the hot sun; offer it early sunshine instead for optimal growth.
Keep these resilient plants indoors where they will receive enough sunlight, such as on a balcony, in a sunny window, or on a patio. In the spring, shine bright light indoors on your colorful donkey’s tail to encourage blossoming. To produce the ideal circumstances for the succulent, you do need to make sure the pot has sufficient drainage.
Does donkey tail enjoy the sun’s rays?
Like many succulents, donkey’s tail does best in a place with a lot of warm sunshine, though it will tolerate some shade. If you decide to keep your plant indoors, choose a sunny windowsill with enough of everyday light.
Donkey tails can be grown inside.
The erroneously termed burro’s tail cactus has long, sweeping stems covered in a carpet of lush, meaty green leaves.
The succulent grows best indoors in a container with good drainage and bright light. Either as a hanging specimen or in a container of mixed succulents, a burro’s tail houseplant will thrive. Given that light conditions differ from nursery to nursery, etc., slowly acclimatize the plant to full sun after purchase.
When the plant becomes too big to fit in a container, divide it and move it every two years so it can grow in new, nutrient-rich soil.
The ease of care for burro’s tail makes it a great plant for beginning gardeners.
The speed of a burro’s tail growth
This succulent is one gorgeous sedum. My golden weeping variegated boxwood, which I brought home from Kew Gardens as a little cutting, lives happily in a huge square terra cotta pot with my now 5-year-old Coleus “Dipped In Wine (yes, they’re officially perennials), which is also a perennial.
The fact that these 3 plants grow well together in a container is surprising, but that’s another tale. I’m going to explain how I take care of and spread my Sedum morganianum, also known as a burro’s tail, donkey’s tail, or horse’s tail, in this post.
Wear your burro’s tail as a necklace if you want to be a great conversation starter at gatherings!
It will finally reach a height of 4 inches, which will take about 6 years. With those trailing stems covered in overlapping, luscious, juicy leaves that create a cool braided pattern, it becomes very thick as it grows.
Unsurprisingly, a mature plant becomes very hefty. This plant is not intended for a fragile pot or hanger. The ideal places to plant it are in hanging baskets, big pots like mine, pots that dangle against walls, and pots that trail out of rock gardens.
How Fast Do Donkey Tail Succulents Grow?
If properly cared for, donkey tail succulents can reach maturity in about 6 years and grow up to 4 feet long during that time. They grow slowly and consistently. However, the donkey tail plant typically reaches a length of 24 inches.
Why Is My Donkey Tail Succulent Losing Leaves?
Due to its fragility, leaf loss is the most frequent issue with donkey tail succulents. Because the plant’s beaded leaves are so delicate, handling it needs to be done with extreme care. Therefore, it is preferable to set the plant down and forget about it, and to avoid continuously handling it.
Always water the plant wherever you have it and try to avoid moving or disturbing it frequently. Your donkey tail plant should ideally be placed in a spot where it won’t be disturbed, such a windowsill or hanging pot in a corner. As far as you can, refrain from repotting the succulent, and keep it away from children and pets.
The donkey tail or burro’s tail succulent is a well-liked indoor plant that is extremely common. These magnificent long, trailing, grey-green succulents are simple to grow and care for and can bring elegance to any area of your home.
Why is the tail on my donkey shriveling up?
The burro’s tail is a common succulent houseplant with eye-catching, teardrop-shaped, plump, meaty leaves. They develop along a vine in a row, and the vine looks lovely trailing over the edge of a hanging basket.
This plant may grow up to four feet long in six years and is indigenous to Mexico and Honduras. It produces summer-blooming white, yellow, or red blooms.
The burro’s tail is a low-maintenance plant that isn’t particularly prone to issues, but when its leaves begin to wilt, that can be a concern.
If this occurs, it typically indicates that the plant is under stress due to a change in its environment, thus you must identify the precise cause of the shriveling in order to take the appropriate action to address the issue.
The most frequent reasons why burro’s tail leaves become shriveled are soil that is excessively dense or has turned hydrophobic, underwatering, overwatering, excessive sunshine, and these conditions.
How frequently should a burro’s tail plant be watered?
Both inexperienced and experienced gardeners like burro’s tail: It is aesthetically pleasing, grows quickly, needs little maintenance or space, and is very simple to propagate—that is, to create new plants from stem or leaf cuttings. Here are some suggestions for maintaining succulents:
- 1. Put in a sunny spot. Burro tails require bright light or some sun for at least four hours each day. If your burro’s tail is an indoor plant, make sure it’s close to strong light but away from windowsills with full, intense sun. Full sun will turn the leaves pale green or yellow. If you live in a chilly climate, bring your burro’s tail inside because they prefer temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2.Use water prudently. Since burro’s tails are succulent plants, the leaves can hold water. Your burro’s tail plant will decay if you overwater it. Although experts advise watering the plant roughly every 10 days throughout the growing season when temperatures are typically above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, outdoor plants only require water every 10 to 14 days. Use the “soak and dry” procedure when it’s time to water, which specifies that the soil must be entirely dry before additional irrigation. Depending on the temperature and amount of light in your home, indoor burro’s tails only require thorough watering once a month. Discover more about succulent plant maintenance.
- 3. Use soil that drains effectively. Burro’s tails need well-draining soil, much like all succulents do. A mixed soil is best for succulents because pure garden soil would encourage root rot. Additionally, you can create your own well-draining soil by combining potting soil with equal parts horticultural grade sand, perlite, or pumice. Compost and worm castings can be fed to your burro once a month during the warm months and not at all during the winter to add extra nutrients to its tails.
- Pest surveillance. Fortunately, burro’s tails appear to be resistant to the majority of insect pests, however your plant may still have aphids or mealybugs. A burst of water from the hose or a solution of water and rubbing alcohol can be used to spritz them. Burro’s tails can be safely be treated with neem oil, a naturally occurring insecticide derived from the seeds of the neem tree.
- 5. Repot as required. Although mature plants are frequently too fragile to repot, repotting a burro’s tail is simple to perform if the plant becomes too large or outgrows its pot. The best container is a terra-cotta pot with draining holes since it will let the plant breathe and store water. Remove the plant once the dirt is completely dry, look for and remove any rotten roots, and then repot it in a fresh pot with well-draining soil. After a week of keeping the burro’s tail dry, lightly irrigate the soil to promote root growth and prevent root rot.
Why are the leaves on my donkey tail falling off?
Burro’s tail, also known as Sedum morganianum, is a tough yet fragile plant. Burro’s tail is a succulent plant whose leaves can easily come off and is referred to as the drama queen of the succulent family. Although the plant is simple to maintain, many plant parents are dismayed by the bald spots on its tendrils.
The fact that burro’s tail is a naturally delicate plant is the main cause of its leaves coming off. This plant’s tendency to slough off its leaves at the slightest provocation is quite normal.
However, occasionally a different reason for the falling leaves may exist and demand your attention. Following are all the causes for the loss of burro’s tail leaves:
Overwatering
The burro’s tail does not require much water, like many succulents. As a result, it is vulnerable to overwatering.
Observing the leaves will help you determine whether you are overwatering your burro’s tail. You are likely overwatering the plant if the leaves shrivel up before they fall off.
Rotting
Succulents frequently struggle with root rot. The burro’s tail gets root rot if the plant was not properly replanted or if the roots are kept submerged for an extended period of time.
This weakens the plant and makes it easier for the leaves to fall off. To find out whether the burro’s tail has root rot, you must examine its roots.
New Leaves
Burro’s tail leaves can occasionally come off due to the plant’s top developing new growth. You shouldn’t worry, though, because new leaves will soon replace the ones that have fallen.
When the burro’s tail leaves fall off, you may notice very small offsets, which just indicates that the plant is active and expanding.