Ceropegia woodii variegata

Origin of Ceropegia woodii variegata

‘Variegata’ is a cultivated selection of Ceropegia woodii and shares the species’ southern African background. Ceropegia woodii occurs naturally from Zimbabwe to South Africa and grows as a subtropical tuberous geophyte.

Growing variegated String of Hearts

Give ‘Variegata’ bright indirect light and, after acclimatisation, gentle morning or evening sun. Protect it from prolonged hot midday sun through glass.

Water only after a good dry-down. Let most of the potting mix dry, then water thoroughly and allow all excess to escape. A clear dry interval suits this tuberous plant; a continuously wet potting mix increases the risk of decline.

Use a loose succulent substrate. A cactus or succulent mix gives the roots enough air and makes moisture changes easier to judge. Feed lightly with a low-nitrogen fertiliser while the plant is producing new vines.

Keep growth balanced. Turn the pot periodically so one side does not receive most of the light. Trim very long vines above a node when you want more branching near the top; healthy cuttings can be rooted.

Problems with variegated String of Hearts

• New vines become long, thin and widely spaced: the plant is probably too far from a bright window. Move it gradually closer; our bright indirect light guide can help you compare positions.
• Cream or pink edges turn sharply brown and crisp: intense direct sun or a severe dry spell can crisp the leaf margins. Move the plant back from hot glass and check whether the pot has been drying much faster than usual.
• Leaves become yellow, translucent or mushy while the mix stays damp: reduce watering and inspect the tubers and roots. Keep firm tubers and roots, remove soft or mushy tissue and repot into a fresh open mix. Our root rot guide covers the recovery steps.
• Cottony white insects collect where leaves meet the stem: isolate the plant and check every node. Remove visible insects, then apply a treatment labelled for mealybugs along both stems and leaf axils and repeat it at the label interval until fresh growth remains clean.

Ceropegia woodii variegata is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

How the name Ceropegia woodii came about

Ceropegia combines Greek keros, meaning wax, with pege, meaning fountain, an image drawn from the form of its flowers. Woodii honours John Medley Wood.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Ceropegia in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 211.

Friedrich Richard Rudolf Schlechter first described Ceropegia woodii in 1894 in Beiblatt zu den Botanischen Jahrbüchern für Systematik, volume 45, page 34.