Ceropegia ampliata
| Light | Bright, indirect light; a few hours of gentle sun suits it well |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in growth, sparingly and allow to dry between waterings; keep nearly dry in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining, gritty succulent mix |
| Temperature | Warmth-loving; keep above about 10 °C, no frost (USDA zones 10–11) |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings (readily); also seed and layering |
| Toxicity | Not documented for this species; related Ceropegia (e.g. string of hearts) are generally regarded as non-toxic to pets |
Ceropegia ampliata is a nearly leafless, twining succulent from southern Africa, grown for its extraordinary balloon-shaped flowers. The slender, jointed green stems climb and scramble through surrounding vegetation, and in season they produce large, inflated white blooms boldly striped in green, their five petal tips joined at the top into a small cage — a form that has earned the plant common names such as bushman's pipe. It belongs to the diverse genus Ceropegia in the milkweed family (Apocynaceae).
Description
Ceropegia ampliata is a climbing or trailing succulent whose photosynthesis is carried out mainly by the stems rather than by leaves, and which grows from a fleshy, tuberous rootstock. The stems are slender, green and somewhat fleshy, often faintly banded, and twine around any available support; true leaves are reduced to tiny, short-lived scales, so an established plant reads as a tangle of bare green cords.
The flowers are the main event. Each is a swollen, flask- or balloon-shaped tube several centimetres long, ivory to greenish-white and marked with strong longitudinal green stripes over the inflated base, often with a narrow purple band around the mouth. The five lobes at the mouth remain fused at their tips, arching together to form a lantern- or cage-like structure over the flower's throat. Like many Ceropegia, the blooms are pollination traps: their colour, form and faint scent lure small flies inside, which are briefly detained by inward-pointing hairs before being released dusted with pollen. Fruits, when they form, are the paired slender "horns" typical of the milkweed family, splitting to release flat seeds each carried on a tuft of silky hairs.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to southern and south-eastern Africa, ranging through parts of South Africa and neighbouring countries into eastern Africa. It grows in warm bushveld and thicket, where the leafless stems scramble up through shrubs and grasses that give both support and light shade, rooting in gritty, well-drained ground. In habitat it endures long dry spells by relying on its succulent stems and a fleshy, tuberous rootstock, drawing back into growth when the rains return.
Cultivation
Ceropegia ampliata is an easygoing plant for anyone who can resist overwatering. Give it bright, indirect light with a little gentle direct sun to keep the stems firm and green and to encourage flowering; too little light produces weak, overly lax growth. Grow it in a free-draining, gritty succulent mix and provide a small trellis, hoop or moss pole, or let it trail from a hanging pot.
Water moderately during the warm growing season, letting the mix dry out between waterings, and cut back sharply in winter, when the plant rests and prefers to stay nearly dry and above about 10 °C. It is very well suited to container culture and can be brought indoors or under cover for cold months. See Watering and Repotting for general technique, and refer to the Ceropegia genus page for notes shared across its relatives such as the popular Ceropegia woodii (string of hearts).
Propagation
The easiest method is stem cuttings: a length of stem cut at a node, allowed to callus briefly, then laid or set into a gritty mix will root readily in warmth. Stems that touch soil often layer themselves at the nodes, and pieces bearing these young roots establish quickly. The plant can also be raised from seed where fresh, plumed seed is available, though cuttings are faster and keep a chosen form true. See Propagation — cuttings and Propagation — seed for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a poorly draining mix, or cold wet conditions in winter; stems soften, discolour and collapse.
- Weak, lax growth — too little light produces pale, floppy stems and few flowers; move to a brighter spot.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff along stems and at nodes) and the occasional aphid on flower buds are the usual visitors; see Pests and diseases.
- Shy flowering — usually down to insufficient light, or too much rich feeding; lean conditions and good light suit it best.
See also
- Ceropegia — the genus overview
- Ceropegia woodii — the familiar string of hearts
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting · Pests and diseases