Senecio tamoides

Its stems are slender, 3 centimetres (1.2 in) to 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in diameter, usually purplish, semi-succulent and hairless that have a clear and sticky exudate.[12]

Leaves are bright green, palmately lobed with venation, shaped like many ivy[11] with broad, oval and fleshy surfaces, 4 centimetres (1.6 in) long and 7 centimetres (2.8 in) wide, coarsely toothed edges, leaf stalks 2 centimetres (0.79 in) to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long.[8]

Close up of flowers

Its inflorescence is many-headed,[8] bright yellow,[11] and the flowering spike grows to have a flat top. The flower heads are cylindrical, about 3 millimetres (0.12 in) in diameter; surrounded with a whorl of five to seven bracts, 6 millimetres (0.24 in) to 7 millimetres (0.28 in) long which are surrounded by two to four smaller bracts or bracteoles.[8] Flowers are cinnamon-scented and would appear from mid autumn to winter.[9][13] In New South Wales, it mainly flowers in winter.[14][15]

Three to six ray florets; each ligule approximately 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long; ten to twelve disc florets, 12 millimetres (0.47 in) to 15 millimetres (0.59 in) long.[8]

When cultivated in the gardens of the National Museums of Kenya, it has orange florets.[16]

Achenes about 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long, and not hairy; pappus 6 millimetres (0.24 in) to 7 millimetres (0.28 in) long.[8] It grows easily from stem cuttings.[11]

In Australia, Senecio tamoides has been misapplied and is usually considered to be Senecio angulatus since the two species bear a resemblance, though S. tamoides (Canary creeper) has leaves that are lighter greened, more ivy or grapevine-like, less glossier and more toothed.[17] Moreover, Canary creeper has petals that are slightly more elongated, about 10 mm long, compared to those of S. angulatus, which are 6–9 mm long.[18]

Delairea odorata (formerly Senecio mikanioides), a related vine in the Senecioneae tribe, is also similar looking, but features small ear-shaped appendages at the base of the stalks of the leaves and flowers that lack obvious petals, whereas both S. angulatus and S. tamoides have daisy-like flowers with several petals. Unlike S. angulatus, which is more of a scrambler, S. tamoides and Delairea grow like typical vines where they intertwine and attach themselves on objects as they climb.

Leaf comparison of the Senecio vine species

In Australia, it is sparingly found in moist gullies in Sydney, the North Coast and South Coast of New South Wales, and southeast Queensland, after escaping from the garden as an ornamental plant due to its seeds being dispersed by wind and parts of its stems being spread in disposed garden waste.

It is a species of concern in south-eastern Queensland, where it was ranked in a list that contains 100 most invasive species in the region. As such, the plant is listed on a few local weed lists in south-eastern QLD – It is a pest plant in Redland Shire, an invasive plant in Gold Coast City, an unwelcome species in Burnett Shire, a significant non-declared pest plant in Maroochy Shire, and an unwanted species in Caboolture Shire.[23] However, these reports may have incorrectly applied the S. tamoides name to Senecio angulatus, since the two are often confused with each other.[24] Further, Atlas of Living Australia has misapplied S. tamoides for its D. odorata observations in Australia.[25]