PLNTversePLNTverse
Plants › Hoyas & trailing vines

hearts entangled (Ceropegia woodii)

Ceropegia woodii is an evergreen, succulent, perennial trailing plant whose growth is mainly pendent rather than distinctly twining or climbing.

LightSources describe light requirements differently: bright indirect light to partial sun is recommended, while some sources also report cultivation in stronger sun; bright diffused light is the more consistent recommendatio
WaterUse a well-drained growing medium and avoid leaving it waterlogged after watering; generally water again after the medium or its surface has dried, and keep it drier in cooler conditions or outside the growing period.
TemperatureSources differ on minimum temperature, with the limited information indicating about 15 °C. It is generally reported to be frost tender; keep above freezing. A source also reports a USDA hardiness-zone classification.
Track your hearts entangled in the PLNTverse app
hearts entangled illustration

Overview

Ceropegia woodii is an evergreen, succulent, perennial trailing plant whose growth is mainly pendent rather than distinctly twining or climbing.

Origin and habitat

It is native to southern Africa, with South Africa, Eswatini and Zimbabwe specifically recorded within its native range. In its natural environment it occurs in places such as hillsides, in well-drained settings with relatively little water and some sunlight. In horticulture it is considered a cold-sensitive plant suited to warm conditions and is also widely grown indoors.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature size, describing a height of about 2–10 cm and a spread of about 50–400 cm. Under suitable conditions it is reported to grow vigorously; green-leaved forms generally grow faster than variegated forms, which can be quite slow. The opposite, fleshy, heart-shaped leaves of the typical form have green and silver markings, with undersides ranging from green to purple, and their coloration is influenced by light; the flowers are elongated and tubular or lantern-shaped, with a swollen base and a distinctive structure formed by petal lobes at the tip, in shades including pink, pale magenta, purple, purple-white or nearly white, with the lobes usually darker. It is reported to flower most heavily from late summer into autumn and, under suitable conditions, into midwinter; its horn-shaped seed pods contain flat seeds with hairy structures that allow dispersal by air currents.

Light

Sources describe light requirements differently: bright indirect light to partial sun is recommended, while some sources also report cultivation in stronger sun; bright diffused light is the more consistent recommendation indoors.

Watering

Use a well-drained growing medium and avoid leaving it waterlogged after watering; generally water again after the medium or its surface has dried, and keep it drier in cooler conditions or outside the growing period.

Temperature and dormancy

Sources differ on minimum temperature, with the limited information indicating about 15 °C. It is generally reported to be frost tender; keep above freezing. A source also reports a USDA hardiness-zone classification.

Growing medium and mounting

A well-drained cactus or succulent medium is suitable; loamy or sandy media can also be used, and acidic to neutral conditions are recommended.

Feeding

A small amount of fertilizer can be applied during the growing period; recommendations include a low-nitrogen liquid fertilizer or a diluted general liquid houseplant fertilizer during spring and summer.

Propagation

It can be propagated from seed, stem cuttings, and bulbils or tubers formed at stem nodes; stem tubers can root on contact with soil and form new plants.

Common problems

It is reported to be susceptible to mealybugs, aphids and scale insects, while excessively wet growing medium can lead to basal rot. Overwatering and waterlogging are major cultivation problems, with greater risk during cold periods, and insufficient light can make the typical form's leaf color paler. It does not tolerate frost or low temperatures and should be kept away from freezing conditions.

Identification

Ceropegia woodii is distinguished by slender trailing vines with paired heart-shaped leaves; a woody tuber-like structure can form at the base, while tubers or bulbils may also develop on the roots and at stem nodes, giving the vines a bead-like appearance.

Photos

Ceropegia woodii
📷 Photo: Dr. David Midgley · CC BY-SA 2.5 · source

Sources