Burro's tail with trailing stems of plump blue-green leaves in a pot — Photo: Paradoxurus · CC0

Burro's tail care

Sedum morganianum · Crassulaceae

Also called Donkey's tail, Horse's tail, Lamb's tail.

By the Greenie team · Fact-checked October 5, 2026

A trailing succulent from eastern Mexico with long stems packed with plump, blue-green leaves that overlap like a braid. It looks best in a hanging pot where the stems can drape. The leaves fall off at the slightest touch, so give it a spot where nobody brushes past.

Pet safe Drought tolerant Flowers indoors

Light

Partial Sun

Watering

Every 2 weeks

Difficulty

Medium

Pets

Non-toxic to cats and dogs

Height indoors

30-60 cm (trailing)

Growth

Moderate

TemperatureUnconfirmed

15-27 °C

Not below 5 °C

HumidityUnconfirmed

30% - 50%

Fine in dry rooms

Soil pH

6.5-7.5

Neutral soil

Native to

Mexico

Through the year

Water thoroughly once the soil has dried out, and much less in winter; wrinkled leaves mean it is thirsty.

Spring
Every 2 weeks
Growth restarts: water when dry and repot only if the pot is full of roots.
Summer
Every 2 weeks
Give it bright light with some direct sun and water thoroughly when the soil dries.
Autumn
Monthly
Space out waterings as growth slows.
Winter
Monthly
Keep it cool, bright and fairly dry, away from heaters.

Feeding

Every 4 weeks in spring and summer. Balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength during active growth. None in autumn or winter.

Care tips

Choose its spot once
Every move costs leaves, so hang it where it can stay.
Root the fallen leaves
Lay them on dry cactus mix; they form roots and small new plants in a few weeks.
Use a shallow pot
A wide, shallow pot with gritty mix drains fast and suits its short roots.
Repot only when needed
Do it in spring and support the stems with your hand; expect to lose some leaves.

Common problems

Root rot

What you seeStems go soft and leaves turn yellow or translucent while the soil is still damp.

What to doCut off healthy stem tips, let them callus and replant in dry gritty mix; throw away the rotten part.
Shrivelled leaves

What you seeLeaves look wrinkled and deflated.

What to doWater thoroughly and let it drain; it needs more water while it grows in summer.
Pale, stretched stems

What you seeGaps open up between the leaves and the colour fades to yellow-green.

What to doMove it to a window with a few hours of direct sun.

Why is my succulent stretching and getting leggy?

Pets

Is burro's tail safe for cats and dogs?

Non-toxic to cats and dogs. Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

More houseplants that are safe for cats and dogs

Good to know

On older plants, single stems can trail 60 cm or more.
Mature plants in strong light can bloom with clusters of small pink to red flowers at the stem tips.