Burro's Tail
Sedum morganianum · Donkey's Tail
It grows on vertical rock cliffs in just two ravines of eastern Mexico, its trailing stems hanging straight down the rock face. It is a pet-safe succulent, which is rare, and so fragile that the plump beads drop at the lightest touch.
Family
Crassulaceae
Origin
Mexico
In the wild
Cliff faces
Indoors
0.3–0.6 m
Growth
Slow
With pets
Non-toxic
Where it's from
Veracruz, eastern Mexico
Two ravines only
Documented in the wild on vertical igneous cliffs in just two ravines, an inherently tiny range.
Outdoors: zones 10–11
Tolerates down to about 5°C. Frost-free regions only, indoors everywhere colder.
Not invasive
Unlike the bunny ear cactus, it is not reported spreading in the wild.
A wild ghost for 70 years
It was described in 1938 from a Mexican nursery as "type locality unknown". Nobody could find where it actually grew until 2008, when a Veracruz rancher led botanists to it clinging to cliffs about 50 km from that first nursery. Abundant in cultivation, barely anywhere in the wild.
Found in 2008
Seventy years of windowsill fame before its wild home was located.
It sheds to spread
The beads it drops when you brush past will root themselves where they land.
Named for a grower
The epithet honours Dr Meredith Morgan, who first coaxed it to bloom.
How to keep it
LightBright, some direct
Full sun outdoors, bright filtered light indoors. Tolerates part shade.
WaterOnly when dry
Soak then dry fully between waterings. Much less in winter. Wet roots are the main killer.
HumidityDry air is fineTolerates dry indoor air. No misting needed.
TemperatureWarm, above 5°CNot frost-hardy. Keep it above about 5°C.
SoilGritty cactus mixVery free-draining, half or more mineral grit. Neutral to alkaline pH.
FeedingBarelyA light feed in the growing season only. Succulents need little.
DifficultyEasyForgiving to keep, but the brittle stems make it easy to damage by handling.
With petsNon-toxicOne of the few genuinely pet-safe succulents. Eating any plant can still cause mild upset.
PropagationLeaf or stem cuttingsDropped leaves root readily on the soil surface and grow into new plants.
RepottingRarelyEvery two to three years. Handle minimally to avoid shedding leaves.
What the data says
What it costs
Mass-produced and cheap, despite the wild plant being a micro-endemic. No collector bubble.
$8–30
Large established trailing specimens and variegated forms command more, roughly $25–60.
IUCN · Not assessed
In the wild
The textbook case: abundant in cultivation, a tiny vulnerable range in the wild.
The wild plant is a micro-endemic restricted to vertical cliffs in just two ravines, an inherently small and vulnerable range, even though no formal IUCN assessment exists. The same plant sits in millions of hanging baskets worldwide.
When it sulks
Beads dropping on contactThe defining issue. The stems are brittle, so handle as little as possible and root the fallen leaves.
Mushy, translucent stemsOverwatering and root rot, the most common killer.
Shrivelled, wrinkled leavesUnderwatering, which is rare since it stores water.
Faded silvery coatingThe waxy bloom rubs off permanently when touched. Cosmetic, not harmful.
Leggy, pale stemsToo little light. Move it brighter.
Varieties & company
The varieties
Sedum morganianum'Burrito' (baby burro's tail)
Pairs with · keep apart from
EcheveriaString of PearlsSnake PlantFernsPeace LilyMonstera
A new plant, every week.
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