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Chinese Lantern Ceropegia woodii

Other plants called Chinese Lantern:

Previously known as:

  • Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii
Phonetic Spelling
sair-roh-PEE-gee-ah WOOD-ee-eye
Description

String of Hearts is a tender, succulent, evergreen perennial that has trailing branches that resemble a string of beads. The plant is frequently called the Rosary Vine because of the beads or aerial tubers that develop along the cascading vines. The tubercles will root and produce another plant if the stem comes in contact with the soil. The stems are long and wiry and drape over a container and hang down about 3 feet. The heart-shaped leaves are. dark green and etched with silver on the upper surface and purple on the underside. The leaves occur about every 3 inches along the stem, and the beads form on the stems between the leaves. The purplish to purplish-white flowers are tubular, and occasionally, insects may become trapped within the flower tubes. However, the String of Hearts is not a carnivorous plant.

This plant is native to Southern Africa and is found along hillsides. The vines can reach up to 12 feet long in their native habitat. The genus name, Ceropegia, originated from the Greek word "keros," which means wax, and "pege," meaning fountain. This refers to the appearance of the flowers that seem waxy and are shaped like a fountain. The plant is called the Bushman's Pipe in Southern Africa. The specific epithet, woodii, is in honor of John Medley Wood who was a collector of native African plants. 

The String of Hearts prefers well-drained sandy, potting soil, and bright, indirect sunlight. Be careful not to overwater this plant. It should be allowed to dry out completely between waterings. It is dormant over the winter and watering should be reduced even further. 

The stringy stems that are vining and trailing are well suited for a hanging pot or basket. It may also be trained on a small trellis. The plant likes to be crowded; therefore, repotting should be deferred until necessary. In hardiness zone 10, the String of Hearts can be planted outside, but it can spread easily.

Quick ID Hints:

  • stems are long and wiry, draping over the container
  • aerial tubers or tubercles develop along the stem between leaves and are bead-like
  • small heart-shaped dark green leaves are etched with silver, the underside of the leaf is purple
  • purplish to purplish white tubular flowers

Insects, Disease, and Other Plant Problems:  Monitor for aphids, mealybugs, and scale. Overwatering can cause root rot and yellowing of the leaves, and wilted leaves are the result of underwatering. Too much sunlight will result in scorched leaves, and large gaps between the leaves indicate that the plant is not getting enough light. 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • f. variegata
    cream and pink variegated leaves
  • 'Heartless'
    bright green leaves with pink on the underside
  • 'Orange River'
    green leaves with a shade of orange
  • 'Silver Glory'
    silver variegated and apple shaped leaves, each leaf has a dark green line
  • 'String of Arrows'
    lime green and silver pointed foliage, pink bloom
f. variegata, 'Heartless', 'Orange River', 'Silver Glory', 'String of Arrows'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#houseplant#interesting flowers#succulent#interesting leaves#hanging baskets#climbing vines#cascading#container plant#perennial#prostrate
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • f. variegata
    cream and pink variegated leaves
  • 'Heartless'
    bright green leaves with pink on the underside
  • 'Orange River'
    green leaves with a shade of orange
  • 'Silver Glory'
    silver variegated and apple shaped leaves, each leaf has a dark green line
  • 'String of Arrows'
    lime green and silver pointed foliage, pink bloom
f. variegata, 'Heartless', 'Orange River', 'Silver Glory', 'String of Arrows'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#houseplant#interesting flowers#succulent#interesting leaves#hanging baskets#climbing vines#cascading#container plant#perennial#prostrate
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Ceropegia
    Species:
    woodii
    Family:
    Apocynaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Layering
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Zimbabwe to South Africa
    Distribution:
    Native to the Cape Provinces, Mozambique, Northern Provinces, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. Introduced to Bismark Archipelago and Society Islands
    Wildlife Value:
    The flowers attract hummingbirds.
    Play Value:
    Easy to Grow
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Succulent
    Habit/Form:
    Cascading
    Climbing
    Prostrate
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    Horn-shaped seed pod. The seeds are flat and have a pappus. They are dispersed by the wind.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The flowers are tubular and are purple to purplish-white.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Variegated
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are opposite, ovate to lanceolate, or heart-shaped, dark green and marbled with silver. The underside of the leaf is purple.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The long, wiry, pink stems grow from tubers. The tubercles look like beads on the vine and root easily when in contact with soil.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Attracts:
    Hummingbirds