🐬🌿 String of Dolphins – Curio × peregrinus Overview

String of Dolphins (Curio × peregrinus), also commonly sold as Senecio peregrinus, is an adorable trailing succulent loved for its uniquely shaped leaves that resemble tiny dolphins jumping through the ocean!

This charming plant features long, cascading stems covered in fleshy, blue-green leaves that appear to have little fins and pointed noses. Its unusual appearance makes it one of the most recognizable and playful members of the popular String of Things succulent collection.

With its whimsical foliage, beautiful trailing growth habit, and relatively low-maintenance care, String of Dolphins is a wonderful addition to hanging baskets, sunny windowsills, and succulent collections.

✨ Appearance

• Small, fleshy leaves shaped like miniature jumping dolphins

• Distinctive curved leaves with tiny fin-like projections

• Beautiful green to blue-green coloration

• Leaves grow along slender, trailing stems

• Naturally develops long, cascading vines

• Mature vines may reach several feet in length under favorable conditions

• Foliage stores moisture, giving the plant its succulent characteristics

• Creates a beautiful waterfall of tiny dolphin-shaped leaves

• May produce small, white to creamy-white flowers

• Flowers can have a pleasant, sweet fragrance

• Often develops a fuller appearance when multiple stems grow together

☀️ Light

• Prefers very bright light

• Gentle morning or late-afternoon direct sunlight is beneficial

• Approximately 4–6 hours of bright light, including some gentle direct sun, can encourage healthy growth

• Protect from intense afternoon sunlight, especially through hot windows

• A bright east-facing or appropriately shaded south-facing window can work well

• A quality grow light can supplement natural lighting indoors

• Insufficient light can cause stretched stems and widely spaced leaves

• In low light, new leaves may lose some of their distinctive dolphin shape

• Gradually acclimate plants to stronger sunlight to prevent scorching

💧 Water

• Allow the potting mix to dry thoroughly or nearly thoroughly between waterings

• Water deeply and allow excess moisture to drain

• Fleshy leaves store water, making the plant relatively drought-tolerant

• Water more frequently during active growth when the soil dries quickly

• Reduce watering during periods of slower growth

• Avoid allowing the container to sit in standing water

• Check moisture throughout the pot rather than only at the surface

• Avoid prolonged, extreme dehydration that causes excessive shriveling

⚠️ Watering Warning

String of Dolphins is a succulent that strongly dislikes constantly wet roots.

Don't water on a strict schedule—check the soil first. Allow the potting mix to dry thoroughly or nearly thoroughly before watering again.

Overwatering can cause mushy leaves, yellowing foliage, stem rot, and root rot.

Prolonged severe underwatering may cause the dolphin-shaped leaves to shrivel, flatten, or dry out.

Important: Shriveling leaves do not always mean the plant needs water! Damaged roots from overwatering can also prevent the plant from absorbing moisture. Always inspect the soil before adding more water.

🌡️ Temperature & Humidity

• Prefers mild to warm growing conditions

• Ideal temperature: approximately 60–80°F

• Comfortable in average household humidity

• Does not require high humidity

• Appreciates good airflow

• Protect from frost and freezing temperatures

• Avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures below approximately 50°F

• Can experience stress during extreme heat, especially when exposed to intense sunlight

• Avoid placing directly beside heating vents

• Performs well indoors when provided with sufficient light

🌱 Soil

• Prefers a loose, fast-draining succulent potting mix

  • Quality cactus or succulent soil

  • Perlite or pumice for additional drainage

  • Coarse mineral amendments, if desired

• Roots appreciate excellent airflow

• Avoid dense, moisture-retentive soil

• Containers should always have drainage holes

• Shallow or appropriately sized pots can work well

• Avoid placing a small root system in an unnecessarily oversized container

🌿 Growth & Care

• Moderate-growing under favorable conditions

• Naturally develops long, trailing stems

• Beautiful in hanging baskets and elevated planters

• Can be grown in shallow decorative containers with proper drainage

• Pinch or trim long stems to encourage branching

• Easily propagated from healthy stem cuttings containing nodes

• Cuttings can be rooted in a well-draining succulent mix

• Several rooted cuttings can be planted together for a fuller appearance

• Fertilize lightly during active growth

• Avoid excessive fertilizer, which may encourage weak, stretched growth

• Remove dead or damaged stems as needed

• Inspect regularly for common succulent pests, especially mealybugs and aphids

• Repot when necessary, handling delicate stems gently

• Provide consistent bright light to help maintain the distinctive dolphin-shaped foliage

🐾 Pet Safety

• Not considered safe for cats and dogs

• String of Dolphins belongs to a group of succulent plants associated with toxicity when ingested

• Chewing or eating the foliage may cause digestive upset and other adverse effects

• Keep hanging vines out of reach of curious pets and children

• Contact a veterinarian if a pet ingests part of the plant

🐬 Flowering

• Mature plants may produce small, white to creamy-white flowers

• Flowers typically develop in small clusters

• Blooms can have a pleasant, sweet fragrance

• Flowering is more likely when the plant receives sufficient light

• Seasonal temperature changes may help encourage flower development

• Not every indoor plant will flower regularly

• The plant is primarily grown for its unusual dolphin-shaped foliage rather than its flowers

💚 Why Plant Lovers Love It

• Adorable dolphin-shaped leaves

• Unique and instantly recognizable appearance

• Beautiful trailing growth habit

• Perfect for hanging baskets

• Relatively drought-tolerant

• Easy to propagate from stem cuttings

• Wonderful addition to succulent collections

• Makes a fun conversation piece

• Great gift for ocean and animal lovers

• Pairs beautifully with other String of Things succulents

• Adds playful personality to sunny indoor spaces

• Because apparently regular succulent leaves weren't cute enough, so Mother Nature decided we needed an entire pod of tiny dolphins swimming through our flowerpots! 😂🐬💚

Plant Nerd Note: String of Dolphins is commonly identified as Curio × peregrinus, although it is still widely sold under the older name Senecio peregrinus.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family, the same botanical family as daisies and sunflowers.

String of Dolphins is generally recognized as a horticultural hybrid associated with:

• String of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus)

• Candle Plant (Curio articulatus)

Its unusual leaves combine a curved, fleshy shape with small projections that create the appearance of a dolphin leaping through the water.

The plant is often sold under its older Senecio classification because botanical names and nursery trade labels do not always change at the same time.

Why Do String of Dolphins Leaves Sometimes Lose Their Shape?

One of the most interesting features of String of Dolphins is that its leaves may become less dolphin-like under certain growing conditions.

When the plant receives insufficient light, new growth can become stretched, and leaves may appear flatter or less distinctly shaped.

Older leaves will not necessarily change back to their original shape, but new growth may develop more recognizable dolphin-like features once lighting improves.

Collector Care Tip: The secret to growing a beautiful, full String of Dolphins is providing plenty of bright light, excellent drainage, and careful watering.

For the fullest appearance, trim overly long vines and propagate healthy cuttings back into the same pot.

If your plant begins producing long stems with widely spaced leaves, it may need more light.

And if you're displaying it in a hanging basket, make sure the top of the pot receives plenty of light too! Otherwise, the vines may continue growing while the crown becomes sparse.

With the right conditions, String of Dolphins can become a gorgeous cascading display of tiny green dolphins that looks like a miniature ocean adventure right in your plant collection! 🐬🌿💚