It has a variety of nicknames: The Whale's Tale, Mermaid's Tail, Blue Chalked Fingers.

No matter what you call it, the crested Senecio Vitalis looks like it came straight from a fairy tale. Crested is the key word in the plant's name. When a succulent crests, it stops producing branches or stems. Instead, it flattens out and abnormal growth occurs at the top of the plant, creating a structure that resembles a mermaid's tail. 

Ranging in 3 to 5 feet wide and up to 2 feet tall, the plants make a statement. 

🌵🌵NOT FOR SALE🌵🌵Please read. Crested Senecio vitalis. 🌵Crested this way because Mother Nature decided to🌵Not man made🌵meaning no one can make it grow like this unless something happen to the plant. I only found these 4 in the past few years in my six big bushes of regular senecio vitalis. #seneciovitalis #senecios #succulentgarden #succulentobsession #succulentjunkie #succulentobsessed #succulentdesign #succulentlover #succulentaddict #succulentlove #succulenthoarder #succulentcity #bayareasucculents #crazysucculentlady #cactusmagazine #ilovesucculents #bayareasucculents #succulenttherapy #planttherapy #cacti #cacticacti #succulenta #mysunsetgarden #cactuslove #cactus #cactuslover

A post shared by Miin Liew (@succulentcraze) on Dec 20, 2019 at 1:04pm PSTDec 20, 2019 at 1:04pm PST

The Senecio Vitalis, however, is harder to find because succulents crest naturally and can't be forced into a tail-like shape. 

Miin Liew, the gardener behind the viral Instagram photos, believes frostbite caused her Senecio Vitalis to become crested. 

"I have only found a few in the past few years after mild winter here in the Bay Area," she told Insider. 

Liew, who has 20 years of gardening experience, also added that the succulents don't permanently crest. After one or two growing seasons, growth will appear in new places and the fan-like shape disappears.

[ B O N B O N ] One of my simple pleasures besides rescuing plants has turned out to be turning succulent rescues into bonsai trees. Here are two that I’ve had for sometime now. Crassula Gollum on the left and Crested Senecio Vitalis/Serpents Blue Chalk Fingers on the right that I potted as a clipping in 2016. . . #seneciovitalis #bluechalksticks #crassula #bonsai #succulent #succulents #sukulent #garden #succulove #succulentlife #succulent_only #succulentlover #california_igers #naturaleza #naturelover #nature_perfection #succulents #succulentlife #succulenthappy #succulentsofinstagram #succulentwonderland #succulentobsessed #vivero

A post shared by @ gardenpigeon on Aug 10, 2019 at 12:58pm PDTAug 10, 2019 at 12:58pm PDT

The plant can withstand droughts, making it an ideal plant for a forgetful gardener. It also loves the sun and well-draining soil.

The Senecio Vitalis is native to South Africa but is now grown in gardens and homes all around the world. 

However, if you're looking to purchase a mermaid's tail, it might be difficult. The crested Senecio Vitalis was recently nicknamed mermaid's tail, so gardeners and plant stores are likely unfamiliar with that name. 

Other plants, like the Euphorbia lactea Cristata, known as the coral cactus, have similar shapes. 

This is Coraline... She’s so beautiful..... My#coralcatus#rhipsaliscereuscula#cactusmomma#cacti#coraline#shessopretty#plantmomma#ilovemygreenbabies#💚💚💚#🌿🌿🌿#growthings#itsfun#botony#amatuerhorticulturist#yay#plantsarelife#plantsofinstagram#plantaddict#

A post shared by Blake Birdsong (@blakieboompow) on May 2, 2019 at 9:42am PDTMay 2, 2019 at 9:42am PDT

The fan-like shape of this succulent is due to it's "Frankenstein" nature. Two succulents join together to form the plant and its magical tail. 

While some see the resemblance of ocean coral (hence its name), many plant lovers believe it looks just like a mermaid's tail. 

The good news is that coral cacti are much easier to find since gardeners can graft the plants together and have more control over the shape and growing process.