Ceropegia woodii
| Light | Bright, indirect light; a few hours of gentle direct sun deepens the leaf markings |
|---|---|
| Water | Water thoroughly, then let the mix dry out; the tuberous roots store water, so err on the dry side and rest it drier in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining, gritty succulent mix |
| Temperature | Keep above about 10 °C; not frost hardy, USDA zones 10–11 |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings, aerial tubercles ("beads"), layering, or seed |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Ceropegia woodii, the string of hearts, is a slender trailing succulent from southern Africa grown for its long, wiry stems strung with pairs of small, heart-shaped leaves marbled in silver over deep green. Delicate lantern-shaped flowers appear along the trailing stems, and its easy-going nature and cascading habit have made it one of the most popular hanging houseplants in cultivation. It belongs to the genus Ceropegia in the family Apocynaceae, and is sometimes treated as a subspecies of Ceropegia linearis.
Description
Ceropegia woodii produces thin, purple-tinged stems that trail or climb to a metre or more, spaced at intervals with opposite pairs of fleshy, heart-shaped leaves usually 1–2 cm across. The upper leaf surface is patterned with a silvery-grey marbling over green, while the undersides are often flushed purple; the depth of the markings varies with light. At the leaf nodes the plant forms small, hard, greyish tubercles — the "beads" or aerial tubers — and at the root it develops a woody, water-storing caudex-like tuber.
The flowers are the source of the wider genus's charm: small tubular blooms, roughly 2–3 cm long, swollen at the base and narrowing to a cage of hair-fringed lobes fused at the tips into a little lantern. This structure briefly traps small pollinating flies, which escape carrying the flower's pollen masses (pollinia). Flowering is most common in the warmer months.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to southern Africa, where it occurs across parts of South Africa, Eswatini and Zimbabwe. It typically grows in dappled shade among rocks and in leaf litter, scrambling over the ground and other vegetation, with its tubers tucked into gritty, sharply drained pockets of soil. This rocky, semi-shaded origin explains its tolerance of neglect and its dislike of soggy roots.
Cultivation
Ceropegia woodii is an easy, forgiving plant and a good choice for beginners. Grow it in a free-draining, gritty mix in a hanging pot or on a high shelf where the stems can cascade. It wants bright, indirect light with a little gentle direct sun to keep the leaves compact and their silver marbling strong; in too much shade the stems stretch and the leaves space out and fade.
Water thoroughly and then allow the mix to dry before watering again — the tuberous roots hold reserves, so overwatering and cold, wet compost are the main dangers. Reduce watering markedly in winter and keep the plant above about 10 °C, as it is not frost hardy. It appreciates being somewhat pot-bound, and feeding lightly during the growing season keeps the long strands lush. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Few plants are easier to multiply. The simplest methods are:
- Aerial tubercles — the little beads that form at the nodes can be laid on damp mix, where they root and sprout new plants. See Propagation — offsets.
- Cuttings — lengths of stem laid on or lightly pressed into moist mix root readily at the nodes; see Propagation — cuttings.
- Layering — pin a trailing stem down onto a pot of mix while still attached to the parent, and let it root before severing.
- Seed is possible where available but slower and less common in the hobby; see Propagation — seed.
A quick water-rooting or soil-layering of a few strands is the usual way growers fill out a fuller basket.
Cultivars
Several forms are grown. C. woodii 'Variegata (often sold as string of hearts variegata) adds cream, pink and silvery variegation to the leaves and needs a little more light to hold its colour and stay healthy. C. woodii 'Silver Glory has broader, more heavily silvered leaves. As with most variegated succulents, the paler forms grow more slowly and are less vigorous than the plain species.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering or a slow-draining mix; stems and tubers turn soft and mushy.
- Leggy, faded growth — too little light stretches the stems and washes out the silver marbling; move it somewhere brighter.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff tucked into the nodes and leaf pairs) and the occasional aphid or spider mite; see Pests and diseases.
- Tangling — the fine strands snarl easily; handle gently when repotting to avoid snapping them.
See also
- Ceropegia — the genus overview
- Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — offsets · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting