The string of pearls is a distinct plant with spherical leaves that originates from South Africa. It’s a succulent in the genus Curio, but scientists identify it as Senecio rowleyanus in the field.
The plant grows from a weak surface root network. The trailing stems can grow up to three feet long before the plant touches the soil and begins another root network. Because the plant prefers not to be in direct sunlight, it grows between other plants or sometimes rocks.
When grown at home, gardeners like to plant string of pearls in a bowl or some other container. The succulent will trail over the side, looking whimsical, like a string of pearls.
This plant typically comes in a light green color. There is a darker stripe along one side to help with photosynthesis. Some other varieties have white stripes. Of course, the question today is, are there blue string of pearl plants? Let’s find out.
Are They Real?
No.
Despite the beautiful photo you’re looking at, there is no such thing as blue string of pearl plants. It’s a disappointment, to be sure. But it’s also an educational moment to learn about seed fraud.
Unfortunately, there are sellers on the internet that lie. They’ll doctor photos of plants, like a string of pearls. Pictures with vibrant colors and beautiful plants will draw a buyer. But if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
In fact, if your string of pearls suddenly turns a blackish or purplish blue color, it can be a sign something is wrong with your plant. It might mean overwatering, underwatering or some other disease, and you should probably investigate.
Protect Yourself
Protect yourself from disappointment. There are a few ways to navigate the world of seed purchases. Check out our hints and you won’t get scammed. Agricultural fraud is a real and serious problem.
Known Distributors
Instead of purchasing your seeds from an unknown seller on Amazon, you might be better off putting your money into the hands of established independent plant sites. It can be easy to purchase through a big box website, but it’s also common for scams to get through.
Unusual Prices
Does that deal seem too good to be true? It probably is. Take a few minutes to compare similar products to other websites. If the price is too low, move along.
Unusual Varieties
Just like the blue string of pearls isn’t real, neither are several other scams. If you see purple watermelon or green sunflowers, they may seem exotic, but they’re not real.
In the case of the string of pearls, blue isn’t the only color plant scammers try to forge. You’ll find photos of purple, red, yellow, and pink string of pearl plants. But, unfortunately, they’re not real.
Conclusion
As much as we wish it to be true, there just is no such thing as a blue string of pearls. However, the real thing comes in a striking shade of green. Sometimes it might come in green and white due to striping along the leaves, but you aren’t going to find blue.