Ceropegia woodii

The full name Ceropegia linearis ssp. woodii, also known as String of Hearts, is a basic succulent that has gained great popularity among growers. The stiff ornamental leaves resemble small hearts in shape. They have a silvery pattern on a dark green background and grow in opposite pairs on the stem. The underside of the leaves turns purple and feels smooth to the touch. Leaf patterning can change significantly throughout the year, depending on the amount of light at any given time.

The plant produces distinctive tubers from which grow thin, creeping shoots. Old tubers can reach a size of up to 5 cm. The young ones also grow on stems - lianas - and can be used for grafting in the more delicate plants of the Asclepiadaceae family. The plant grows liana-like, and the length of the liana can reach up to 4 metres. It can be slightly shortened if necessary.

The flowers are small but distinctive, growing in large numbers. It flowers mainly in summer, but can also flower throughout the year. It occasionally produces long elongated seedheads.

It is also suitable for growing as an overhanging plant. At home it can be grown, for example, on a cupboard or shelf, where its leafy shoots form curtains. Ceropegia woodii is tolerates both irregular watering and light, but care must be taken to ensure that it is not exposed to prolonged cold. Cut lianas can be grown in a jar of water, and we also have a variegated form of this plant (Ceropegia woodii variegata). This is one of the most popular of the overhanging succulents, whether for its appearance, its heart-shaped leaves or its hardiness and ease of cultivation.