Senecio pleistocephalus is a spirited climber and scrambler in bush and scrub. It grows in the north-east of South Africa in bushveld, woodland and hillside scrub. The plants are often found in semi-shade or in shade, but working hard to see some sun.

This plant was found on the southern slope of the Magaliesberg, bearing fruit in May. These fruits grow in compact clusters. They are small, pinkish or cream, turning brown as they ripen. Each fruit is cylindrical and ribbed. The glossy bright green leaves show the plant to be in robust health at the end of the rainy season.

This species resembles S. tamoides, the well-known canary creeper that overlaps with its distribution in the east of South Africa (Manning, 2009).