Senecio globosa is one variation of Senecio articulatus (=hot dog or candle cactus). Many times it is also referred as Senecio articulatus v. globosa. The globosa’s jointed segments are more rounded compared to those of the articulatus species.
Not much information about this rare succulent. There are many different species of Senecio plants and mostly are native to South Africa and Madagascar. Just like any other cacti and succulents, S. globosa has to kept drier during winter months and moderate watering during warmer months.
Nothing really spectacular about this dainty plant except the odd shape and the interesting leaves are quite pretty. The small globular stems seem to be stacked in a precarious way that you may be afraid they are going to fall. Ha, ha…… I read somewhere that this plant has flowers, so I cannot wait to see mine flowering.
Update January 18, 2012:
Senecio globosa is supposed to drop leaves in the winter time, but here in Melbourne is summer now and ours is still bare. Some new growths are not round, instead they are long/more like cucumber. Weird! So far I have moved the plant into a better pot.
Senecio articulatus v. globosa – January 18, 2012
Kiyanti2008's Weblog 
Jan 17, 2012 @ 08:38:26
I grow Senecio Anglulatus v Globosa. It flowers around Christmas time with very small but interesting flowers which smell like cat’s p…….!!!!!!!
Jan 17, 2012 @ 10:46:08
Our Senecio hasn’t flowered yet and now it is losing all the foliage. Don’t know why, probably too much moisture.
Jan 17, 2012 @ 11:13:57
I have some older plants and some newer ones which I have grown from ‘cuttings’. This year the older plants have not flowered but the newer ones are super (although my wife cannot stand the smell). All plants were treated the same ie allowed to dry out and bake during the summer although last year’s summer here in the UK was not the best in terms of sunshine. But this is all part of the fun in growing Cacti and Succulents. I have some which reward me every year and some which have never flowered in over forty years. I have one which has flowered once in that time.
Jan 17, 2012 @ 11:41:48
Talking about putrid smell in flowers, I just read that actually ‘Senecio articulatus’ flowers that smell bad. Good that mine never flowers so far:)
I just googled Senecio angulatus v globosa, but only found S. angulatus. It has yellow daisy-like flowers and they’re supposed to smell sweet. If yours smell like cat’s p…., it could be different species:) But then again, it is sometimes strange with flower smells. Ppl. say that jonquils have beautiful perfume, but to me they smell terrible!!!
Apr 05, 2013 @ 14:17:39
I need to know how to care for this plant. I just got one accidentally.
Nancy
Apr 05, 2013 @ 16:48:47
Senecio articulatus ‘Globosa’ needs similar growing conditions as cacti.
– It needs a sunny spot away from frost.
– Very well drain potting media ( cactus or succulent mix is good).
– Water when soil starts to get dry and very sparingly in the winter.
– A small amount of balance fertilizer when it starts to grow foliage.
– Trim dry leaves during resting season to look neat.
Apr 11, 2013 @ 05:24:10
Hello Nancy,
I have two varieties of Senicio- Angulatus and Globosa-I let them bake during the summer (sometimes difficult here in the UK!!!) and then water them when the leaves start to grow in the Autumn. They flower in the Winter with very small but VERY smelly flowers. They are wonderful when viewed under a magnifying glass.
Regards
Jim Baldwin
Jan 15, 2014 @ 00:19:40
Hello Jim! (And Lois, sorry for crashing in like this)
I have been looking for the Globosa for YEARS without finding it. If you have it, and would be willing to send me a small cutting, I’d be happy forever.
Regards,
Li
Jan 19, 2014 @ 15:19:47
Hi Li, I hope Jim will read this blog again to answer your comment. If possible, I don’t mind to send you a cutting of C. globosa, but you know it is forbidden to mail/send any material from plants and animals in or out Australia. Australia has very strict regulation regarding this matter.
Jan 19, 2014 @ 11:55:36
Thanks for all of your comments. Today, I searched all over the area where my Senecio Angulatus or Glabosa plant is in bloom for a smell that smells like cat poop and finally realized that it is the plant’s flowers that smell like that. It has a lot of flowers on it and is doing well and grown a lot. I just don’t know if I can stand the smell of this. Which one do I have?
Thanks again,
Nancy
Jan 19, 2014 @ 15:13:11
Hi Nancy, welcome back 🙂
If your plant is a vigorous climber with daisy like yellow flowers, then it must be Senecio angulatus which is also known as Creeping groundsel. I got this info from Wikipedia and there is no mention about the bad smell.
Senecio articulatus/globosa or also known as candle plant is slow growing and more like succulent or cactus, just like the pictures above, mine never flower so far.
If you google Senecio, apparently it consists of around 1250 species of very different forms and some are climbers, succulents, shrubs, small trees or even aquatic plants.
Jan 20, 2014 @ 04:10:36
Hi Lois! I’m hoping Jim checked the “notify me” box so he’ll see my reply… 🙂 I live in Sweden, so it would be much more convenient if he’d be willing to part with a small cutting 😉 Anyway, I really like your blog! It makes me miss my own, maybe I should start writing agan!