Plate No. 20
String of Hearts
Ceropegia woodii
"A silver chain of paper hearts"
Native to
Eastern South Africa, Zimbabwe and Swaziland
History
A brief account
String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii) is one of the most graceful trailing succulents, with delicate, heart-shaped leaves that seem to float along thin purple stems. It was collected in 1881 by John Medley Wood, curator of the Durban Botanic Garden, on a cliff in Natal, South Africa, and its elegant form quickly won over Victorian collectors. The plant’s species name, woodii, honours Wood himself. In the wild, it grows among rocks and cliff faces, where its wiry stems trail, scramble and root wherever they find a suitable crevice. The silver marbling on the leaves helps give the plant its soft, almost ethereal appearance, while the purple undersides add quiet colour when the vines spill over a pot. Its unusual lantern-shaped flowers are another delight: small tubular blooms in pink, mauve and purple, shaped to temporarily trap tiny pollinating insects before releasing them dusted with pollen.
How to care for
String of Hearts prefers bright, indirect light, with a little gentle morning or late-afternoon sun to encourage strong growth, good leaf colour and flowering. Let the soil dry out between waterings, as the tuberous roots store moisture and dislike staying wet. A free-draining cactus or succulent mix works best, especially in a pot with drainage holes. Avoid heavy composts and oversized pots, which can hold too much moisture around the roots. In lower light the vines may become sparse and stretched, while in strong direct midday sun the leaves can scorch. Feed lightly during spring and summer, and reduce watering in winter when growth slows.
How to propagate
Propagation is easy and satisfying. The simplest method is to take vine cuttings with several leaf pairs and place the nodes on top of moist, gritty soil, pinning them down so they stay in contact. Roots and tiny tubers will form from the nodes. You can also root cuttings in water before potting them on, or use the small bead-like aerial tubers that sometimes develop along older stems. These tubers can be gently pressed into soil and kept lightly moist until new growth appears. For a fuller plant, coil several cuttings back onto the surface of the pot rather than letting every strand hang down.
Cultivation
Quick tips for care & planting
- Light
- Bright, indirect light. A little gentle sun deepens the variegation.
- Water
- Allow soil to dry fully between waterings.
- Soil
- Free-draining succulent mix in a shallow hanging pot.
- Temperature
- 16–24°C. Keep above 10°C in winter.
- Propagation
- Stem cuttings, or by planting the small aerial tubers.