Ceropegia

ceropegia

( seer - oh - PEEJ - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of plants is native to Africa, southern Asia, and Australia, and includes plants with a trailing or vining habit, though a few species are upright growers. They have many common names, including Lantern Flower, Parasol Flower, Parachute Flower, Bushman's Pipe, String of Hearts, Snake Creeper, Wine-Glass-Vine, Rosary Vine, and Necklace Vine. Flowers are tubular and intricately decorated. Use these interesting plants in containers or hanging baskets, in arid gardens or xeriscapes, or simply as specimens for their unique aesthetic attributes.

ceropegia Species and Varietals

The genus Ceropegia is a member of the plant family Apocynaceae and includes somewhere around 450 species. It was named and first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1737 in his publication Genera Plantarum. The genus moniker Ceropegia is thought to be derived from the Greek word 'keropegion', meaning a branched candlestick. These plants grow well in USDA hardiness zones 10-12, or in any zone as indoor or greenhouse specimens. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Ceropegia ampliata (Bushman's Pipe, Condom Plant, Horny Wonder, Elephantine Ceroptegia, Boesmanpyp, Boesmanpypblom)
This species is native to eastern and southern regions on the African continent and produces plants with trailing, succulent stems and reduced leaves. Flowers are white and green, occasionally sporting a violet-colored ring around the tube portion of the inflorescence. Flowers bloom between December and March in their native habitat. Individual trailing stems can reach up to 6.6 feet long. This species does well in hanging baskets.

Ceropegia candelabrum (Candlestick Ceropegia, Goglet Flower, Kundher, Nagathumba, Bakkalimanda)
This species is the type member of the genus Ceropegia and the specific epithet candelabrum refers to the candelabra-like appearance of the blooms. These plants are perennial, succulent, and twining, growing from underground tubers. Flowers are white to green-yellow and have vertical red stripes and yellow mouths with red tips. They are native to India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, and bloom from August to January.

Ceropegia dichotoma (Cardoncillo, Canary Candelabra Flower, Needle Vine, Gabelige Leuchterblume, Forked Candelabra Flower)
These plants are native to the Canary Islands, and were first described in 1812. They can reach about four feet tall at maturity, and take a different form than most others in the genus. Vertical, light grey-green trunks are formed, at the top of which tubular yellow flowers bloom in autumn and wintertime. These can be great plants for arid gardens, and require hot conditions to grow well. They do not do well grown indoors.

Ceropegia fusca (Fusca String of Hearts, Fusca Rosary Vine, Fusca Lantern Flower)
An upright grower, this species is endemic to the Canary Islands and forms erect, woody grey-green stems to about 4 feet tall. Flowers produced by these plants are dark red with gold-yellow throats, and appear at nodes. Blooms pop in spring and summertime. These are used as ornamental additions to gardens in dry and drought-prone areas, and require hot conditions to thrive.

Ceropegia radicans (Radicans String of Hearts, Radicans Rosary Vine, Rosary Vine)
This vining species has fleshy, glabrous green leaves and produces large tubular flowers with cage-like appendages at the mouths. Blooms are commonly green and white, with reddish markings at the mouth and five yellow-green tip segments. Individual plants can reach up to 8 inches tall with vining stems that reach up to 6.5 feet long.

Ceropegia sandersonii (Parachute Plant, Fountain Flower, Umbrella Plant, Giant Ceropegia, Sanderson's Ceropegia, Sambrellblom)
This evergreen, prostrate, trailing plant has sparse but succulent leaves and green-white funnel-shaped flowers that have hairy mouths to trap flies in an effort to aid pollination. Flies are released as the flower fades and the hairs at the mouth weaken. This species is commonly cultivated as a houseplant, and produces trailing stems that can reach up to 13 feet long.

Ceropegia stapeliiformis (Serpent Ceropegia, Snake Creeper, Slangkambro, Serpiente Enredadera, Ceropegia Serpiente)
This prostrate woody creeper is native to South Africa (where it grows as a scrub bush) and has fibrous roots. Flowers are distinctly shaped, with a funnel base mottled with red and white markings, and a wide-opening mouth with long protruding segments. Flowers bloom from December through March.

Ceropegia woodii (String of Hearts, Chain of Hearts, Collar of Hearts, Rosary Vine, Hearts-on-a-String, Sweetheart Vine, Bushman's Pipe, Chinese Lantern)
This species is native to southern Africa and is a commonly grown houseplant in many areas of the globe. These plants were first discovered by John Medley Wood, for whom the species is named. String of Hearts are evergreen with succulent foliage and produce off-white pale magenta flowers. They are widely grown as indoor plants in hanging baskets, where their stems can trail downward.

Caring for ceropegia

Ceropegia, or String of Hearts, is a tropical plant that can be grown outdoors in warmer climates (USDA growing zones 10-12) or indoors as a houseplant. Outdoors, they should be situated in a space that does not drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose a hanging basket or container that has adequate drainage holes on the bottom, and fill it with a light, bark-heavy potting mix (one that is good for succulents or cacti will suffice). They need excellent drainage to thrive; water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Situate the container in a space that receives bright, indirect light. They should not get any late afternoon direct sun, as this exposure will quickly sunburn leaves and stress the plant. Every year, check the bottom of the container to see if roots are beginning to grow through. When this happens, it is time to choose a larger container and repot the plant. Prune in springtime, removing about 1/3 of the length of each vine. Pruning will keep the plant looking fresh and bushy and clean up straggly growth. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Ceropegia plants typically live for a decade or more before needing to be replaced.

Growing Ceropegia Indoors
As indoor specimens, these plants prefer to be situated in a warm, humid location with bright indirect light. String of Hearts will do best with temperatures between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and like to be in an environment with a humidity of 40-60%. Mist plants regularly to provide adequate humidity for best growth. String of Hearts should be situated in a spot that gets bright but dappled, filtered sunlight. The more light these plants receive, the more they will bloom. If they are not receiving enough light, for example if they are grown in medium indirect light, they will lose some leaves and not flower. Increase light using grow lamps if necessary. Keep the soil moist but not wet, watering somewhere between once every one or two weeks. Allow soil to dry out between waterings to discourage root rot. During wintertime, these plants go somewhat dormant, and will need fewer waterings. Prune plants with sanitized scissors or clippers, removing up to 1/3 the length of each vine in early springtime. Check the bottom of your plant's pot regularly to determine if any roots are attempting to grow out through the bottom drainage holes. Once roots emerge, it is time to pot up. If your plant has become root-bound or if there are sections of roots that have died since it was last repotted, this is a good time to break up those roots or trim some off.

Propagation

Ceropegia plants are most easily propagated through taking cuttings of an existing plant and rooting them. To propagate your String of Hearts, follow the instructions below:

Take a 3-node soft stem cutting from the end of a non-blooming stem, cutting at a 45 degree angle with sanitized shears or scissors.
Remove all but the top two to three leaves from the cutting and then dip the cut end into rooting hormone and tap to remove excess powder. Alternatively, you can simply leave the cutting out for a few days and allow the cut end to callus over.
Place the cutting in your prepared propagation container, and water, ensuring that good drainage is occurring. Continue to provide water regularly to these new cuttings, and in about 2 weeks roots should be forming at the base of the cutting.