2 named cultivars

cactus succulentN. America Native

Burro's Tail

Sedum morganianum

The Story

Plant Bio

Sedum morganianum, burro's tail, is a trailing succulent from the states of Veracruz, Puebla and Chiapas in Mexico, hanging one to four feet from a basket. Plump blue-green lance-shaped leaves overlap in dense spirals along the pendulous stems, and clusters of small star-shaped pink to red flowers appear at the stem tips in summer.

The leaves detach at the lightest touch, which is why hanging it somewhere it will never be brushed matters more than any other care instruction — a knocked plant sheds bare patches that take years to refill. Every dropped leaf will root where it lands, so a plant this fragile is also among the easiest of all to propagate.

Uses & Benefits:

Long ropes of overlapping blue-green leaves that hang dramatically from a basket or wall pot.

Needs very little water or attention, and every dropped leaf becomes a free new plant.

Pollinators visit the tip flowers where it is grown outdoors in frost-free regions.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Cactus Succulent

Height

24 inches

Width

21 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Low

Humidity

Low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Veracruz, Puebla and Chiapas, Mexico

Toxicity

Non-toxic; large quantities may upset the stomach

Planting

How to Grow

Hang it where nothing will brush against it.
Give it bright light, with some direct sun.
Use gritty, free-draining cactus compost.
Water thoroughly, then let it dry out completely.
Water very sparingly through winter.
Lay dropped leaves on compost to root new plants.

Pro Tip

Site it once and leave it — the leaves fall off at a touch, and the bare patches take years to grow back over.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Hang it clear of foot traffic 🪝
Give it bright light 🌞
Let it dry out fully between waterings 🌵
Root the dropped leaves 🌱

Don't

Move or brush against it needlessly ❌
Overwater it ❌
Repot it more often than necessary ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rest
Water

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Hanging baskets indoors or on a sheltered patioWall-mounted containers in frost-free regionsBright windowsill succulent display

Companion Plants

String Of Pearls EcheveriaJade Plant Haworthia String Of Hearts

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Burro's Tail questions

What zones can Burro's Tail grow in?

Burro's Tail is hardy in USDA Zones 4–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Burro's Tail deer resistant?

Yes — Burro's Tail is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Burro's Tail bloom?

Burro's Tail typically blooms in summer through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Burro's Tail need full sun?

Burro's Tail does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Burro's Tail drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Burro's Tail handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.