Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii
An evergreen caudiciform trailing succulent from southern Africa with heart-shaped leaves marbled with silver and green, tubers at intervals along the stems, and long vines bearing waxy, vase-like flowers.
Common Names
Rosary Vine, Sweetheart Vine, Hearts-On-A-String, Chinese Lantern, String Of Hearts, Keepsake Heart, Chain Of Hearts, Heart Strings
Summary
Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii is an evergreen, tuberous trailing vine native to southern Africa, with slender, pendulous stems arising from a tuberous base and heart-shaped leaves marbled with silver and green on the top and green to purple undersides. It bears small, waxy, vase-shaped flowers about 2.5–3 cm long in off-white with pale magenta, and tubers form at nodes along the stems, contributing to a rosary-vine appearance; a trap-flower pollination mechanism operates within the flower. In cultivation, it requires well-drained soil and little water, with watering only when the compost surface is dry and good drainage to prevent rot. The plant is frost-sensitive and best displayed in hanging baskets or as ground cover in warm climates, tolerating bright light to light shade. Propagation is straightforward via stem cuttings or through tubers at stem nodes, making it a popular ornamental trailing plant for interiorscapes and containers.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
10 inches-10 feet
Spread
6.5-13 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 10-11
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Partial Sun; can be grown in Full Sun or Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained soil
Soil Drainage
Excellent drainage, well-drained soil, use a freely draining, gritty mix (coarse sand, perlite, or similar large-textured components) and ensure the pot has drainage holes.
Soil pH
6.1-7.3 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Bloom Color
Purple with off-white and pale magenta
Bloom Time
Summer to Fall
Foliage Color
Silvery green with purple undersides
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Slow growing; under optimal conditions can fill a 25 cm pot in about 1–2 years, with the all-green variety growing faster than variegated
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Stem cuttings, Tubers, Aerial tubers, Stem bulbils, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts hummingbirds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Subspecies
- Author
- (Schltr.) H.Huber
- Publication
- Mem. Soc. Brot. 12: 118 (1957)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Gentianales
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Genus
- Ceropegia
- Species
- Ceropegia linearis
Synonyms
Ceropegia barbertonensis Ceropegia leptocarpa Ceropegia schoenlandii Ceropegia euryacme Ceropegia hastata Ceropegia woodii