Burro’s Tail vs String of Bananas: Which Drops Fewer Leaves When You Move It?

Burro’s tail and string of bananas are the two trailing succulents most often sold side by side in nurseries, and most buyers assume they are close relatives. They are not. Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) belongs to the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) and originates from the cliffs of Veracruz, Mexico. String of bananas (Curio radicans) is a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae) and grows wild across the Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa [2]. Two unrelated families, separated by an ocean, independently evolved the same trailing habit to cascade down rocks and tree bases—a textbook case of convergent evolution.

That shared silhouette hides real differences in growth speed, leaf toughness, light tolerance, and—critically—pet safety. This comparison breaks down every practical detail so you can pick the right one for your hanging basket.

Quick Comparison Table

A 73-Year Botanical Mystery

Burro’s tail has one of the strangest origin stories in horticulture. In 1935, American botanist Eric Walther walked into Jardín Flottante, a tiny nursery in Coatepec, Veracruz, and found dozens of tin cans nailed to the walls, each trailing meter-long pale green tails that nearly concealed the building [5]. He bought several specimens and shipped them to California, but the plant refused to bloom—and without flowers, placing it in the right genus was guesswork.

It took Dr. Meredith Morgan, a hobbyist grower in Richmond, California, to finally coax a bloom. Those small pink, star-shaped flowers confirmed the plant was a Sedum, and Walther formally described it in 1938, naming it morganianum in Morgan’s honor [3]. The catch: the official description listed its type locality as “unknown.” Nobody had ever found it growing wild.

That mystery lasted 73 years. In 2008, Mexican botanists David Jimeno-Sevilla and Amparo Alvalat-Botana located wild populations clinging to vertical cliff faces in two ravines near Tenampa, roughly 50 kilometers south of where Walther first saw the plant in a nursery [5]. Burro’s tail had been collected, cultivated, and distributed worldwide for seven decades before anyone knew where it actually came from.

String of bananas, by contrast, has been well documented in the wild across South Africa’s Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal, where it forms mats at the base of trees [2].

Leaf Shape, Texture, and the Window Trick

The easiest way to tell these two plants apart is to look at a single leaf. Burro’s tail leaves are plump, jelly-bean shaped, and coated in a powdery blue-silver bloom called epicuticular wax [1]. That waxy coating reflects excess UV radiation and reduces water loss—but it rubs off the moment you touch it, leaving a visible fingerprint. Once the wax is gone from a leaf, it does not grow back.

String of bananas leaves are elongated and curved like miniature bananas, glossy green rather than matte blue. Each leaf has a translucent stripe running lengthwise—a structure called a leaf window [2]. These windows allow light to penetrate into the interior of the leaf where photosynthetic tissue sits, increasing the rate of photosynthesis without requiring the leaf to be flat [6]. The translucent tissue also lacks stomata, so the window channels light in without letting water escape.

Both plants use a water-saving photosynthesis strategy called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). They open their stomata at night to absorb CO₂, convert it to malic acid for temporary storage, then use that stored carbon during the day with stomata closed [7]. This is why both tolerate drought so well and why overwatering—not underwatering—is the primary killer of each.

Growth Speed and Trail Length

If you want a full, dramatic cascade quickly, string of bananas is the clear winner. NC State Extension classifies its growth rate as rapid [2], and in good conditions a cutting can produce visible trails within a few months. Mature stems reach about 3 feet.

Burro’s tail grows at a medium pace [1]. Trails can eventually reach 4 feet, but getting there takes years. Wisconsin Horticulture Extension notes that stems need to be at least 10 inches long before the plant can even attempt to flower [3]. The trade-off: burro’s tail’s slower growth produces denser, heavier-looking tails with tightly packed overlapping leaves, which many growers prefer for visual impact.

Not sure which one to pick? aloe vera vs haworthia compares the key differences.

Light Requirements

This is where the two plants diverge the most. Burro’s tail handles full sun (6+ hours of direct light) and actually needs strong light to maintain compact growth [1]. In lower light, internodes stretch and leaves space out, giving the tails a sparse, leggy appearance. In extremely harsh afternoon sun, leaves may bleach from blue-green to yellowish—a sign to provide some afternoon shade [3].

String of bananas does not tolerate full sun. NC State Extension explicitly notes it is “not full-sun tolerant” [2]. Bright indirect light or a few hours of gentle morning sun works best. Prolonged direct exposure causes sunburn, visible as browning or reddish discoloration on the leaves. An east-facing window is ideal indoors; a west-facing window works only with a sheer curtain filtering the afternoon light.

Watering and Soil

Both plants need well-draining soil and infrequent watering, but the thresholds differ. Burro’s tail prefers to dry out nearly completely between waterings. During winter dormancy, once a month may be sufficient [3]. Overwatering causes root rot, and the first sign is soft, translucent leaves rather than the normal plump, firm ones.

String of bananas tolerates slightly more frequent moisture—water when the top half of the soil feels dry [2]. It is still drought-tolerant and will recover from a missed watering (the banana-shaped leaves wrinkle when thirsty, then plump back up after a drink). However, sitting in soggy soil triggers the same root rot risk as any succulent.

For both plants, a commercial cactus and succulent mix works well. Adding extra perlite, pumice, or coarse sand improves drainage further. Shallow, wide pots with drainage holes are better than deep containers—both plants have modest root systems and actually perform better when slightly pot-bound.

The Fragility Factor

This is the single biggest practical difference between the two. Burro’s tail leaves detach at the slightest bump. Repotting, moving the hanging basket to a new hook, or even a strong breeze can leave a trail of fallen leaves on the floor [3]. Those dropped leaves will root if left on dry soil—great for propagation, frustrating for aesthetics. Place burro’s tail in a permanent spot and avoid handling it.

String of bananas has noticeably tougher stems. You can repot it, trim it, and rearrange it without losing half the plant in the process. For households with children, high-traffic areas, or spots where the basket might get bumped regularly, string of bananas is the more practical choice—assuming pet safety is not a concern.

Pet Safety: The Deciding Factor for Many Growers

ASPCA lists burro’s tail as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses [4]. Ingesting large quantities of any plant material can cause mild stomach upset, but there is no toxic compound in Sedum morganianum.

String of bananas is a different story. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids—compounds that, if ingested in large amounts, can cause irreversible liver damage [2]. Symptoms of ingestion include loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. The sap can also cause skin irritation or rash on contact. If you have cats or dogs that chew houseplants, burro’s tail is the safer pick. Hang string of bananas well out of reach, or skip it entirely in homes with plant-nibbling pets.

Propagation

Both plants propagate easily from cuttings, but the methods differ slightly.

Burro’s tail propagates from both stem and leaf cuttings. Strip the lower leaves from a stem cutting, let the cut end callous for a day or two, then insert it into well-drained mix. Individual fallen leaves will also root if placed on top of dry soil—but leaf propagation is slow and can take several months to produce a recognizable plant [3].

String of bananas propagates best from stem cuttings [2]. Snip a 4–6 inch section, remove the lowest leaves, let it callous, and lay it on moist cactus mix. Roots appear within 2–3 weeks in warm conditions. Leaf cuttings are unreliable for this species—stick with stems.

Temperature and Hardiness

Both plants share the same USDA hardiness range—10a through 11b—but their cold thresholds differ slightly in practice. Burro’s tail tolerates temperatures down to about 40°F and can spend summers outdoors in cooler zones as long as you bring it inside before nighttime temps drop below that mark [3]. It also benefits from a cooler winter rest period in the 50–60°F range, which can promote flowering the following summer.

String of bananas is less cold-hardy. NC State Extension describes it as “not frost tolerant” [2], and exposure below 40°F can damage or kill the stems. Indoors, both plants prefer average room temperatures between 60°F and 75°F. Neither tolerates high humidity well—avoid placing them in bathrooms or near humidifiers. Good airflow around the hanging basket helps prevent fungal problems.

Common Problems

Root rot from overwatering is the leading cause of death for both species. The symptoms look slightly different: burro’s tail leaves become soft and translucent, while string of bananas leaves turn mushy and brown at the base. If you catch it early, unpot the plant, trim the rotted roots, let the remaining root ball dry for a day, and repot into fresh, dry cactus mix.

Mealybugs are the most common pest for burro’s tail—they hide in the tight crevices between overlapping leaves and are difficult to reach [3]. Rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab dabbed directly on the insects is the most effective treatment. String of bananas is more susceptible to aphids, scale, and spider mites [2]. Inspect new plants before bringing them near your existing collection, and isolate any infested plant immediately. For either species, avoid misting as a humidity measure—it raises disease risk without meaningful benefit.

Flowers and Fragrance

Neither plant is grown for its blooms, but when they do flower, the contrast is striking. Burro’s tail produces clusters of small, pink to red, star-shaped flowers with bright yellow stamens at the tips of mature stems in summer [1]. It rarely blooms indoors. Wisconsin Horticulture Extension notes that cooler winter temperatures in the 50–60°F range may help trigger flowering the following season [3].

String of bananas flowers are white to pale mauve, appear in late summer through fall, and carry a distinct cinnamon fragrance that attracts pollinators [2]. The scent is a pleasant surprise from a plant most people buy purely for foliage.

Which One Should You Choose?

The decision usually comes down to three factors: pets, patience, and light.

Choose burro’s tail if:

• You have cats or dogs—it is non-toxic [4]
• You have a bright, south-facing window with direct sun
• You prefer dense, heavy-looking tails and don’t mind slower growth
• You can place it somewhere permanent where it won’t get bumped

Choose string of bananas if:

• You want fast, dramatic trailing growth within months
• You have bright indirect light but not harsh direct sun
• You need a plant you can handle, repot, and prune without leaf carnage
• Your household has no pets that chew plants (or you can hang it safely out of reach)

Both plants thrive in USDA zones 10a–11b outdoors and make excellent macrame hanger plants indoors. Both use CAM photosynthesis to conserve water, tolerate neglect better than overattention, and reward you with cascading trails that transform a bare shelf or window into something worth staring at. The right one depends on your household, your light, and how much you enjoy watching a plant grow slowly versus quickly.

If you’re exploring more trailing succulent comparisons, see our String of Pearls vs String of Hearts guide for another side-by-side breakdown. For broader succulent care fundamentals, start with our general care guide.

Sources

1. NC State Extension. Sedum morganianum (Burro’s Tail, Donkey’s Tail). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
2. NC State Extension. Curio radicans (String of Bananas, Banana Vine). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
3. Wisconsin Horticulture Extension. Burro’s Tail, Sedum morganianum. University of Wisconsin–Madison
4. ASPCA. Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Burro’s Tail. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
5. Laidback Gardener. A Long-Standing Horticultural Mystery Finally Solved. Laidback Gardener Blog
6. Wikipedia. Leaf Window. Wikimedia Foundation
7. Brulfert, J. et al. Photoperiodism and Crassulacean Acid Metabolism. Planta, Springer (confirmed S. morganianum performs CAM independently of photoperiod)