Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Menispermaceae
Stephania pierrei
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
VAT included · plus
Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
Secure shipping, carefully packed orders with safe delivery across the EU, UK and Switzerland.
28-day plant guarantee, if a plant arrives damaged or fails soon after delivery, we help you make it right.
Free returns, simple, cost-free returns according to our policy.
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Care at a glance
Stephania pierrei
Watering
Water when ~80–95% dry
Substrate
Airy + gritty • Fast-draining • Mineral-leaning • Medium
Temperature
Ideal: 18–26 °C • Avoid below: 15 °C
Humidity
Moist 50–60 %
Growth habit
Twining caudiciform herbaceous vine.
Support
optional
Growth speed
High
Max size indoors
Max. height with support: 300 cm • Max. spread: 100 cm
Toxicity & safety
Pet safety unconfirmed
Origin & habitat
Native from Thailand to Indochina
Outdoor growing
Indoor only
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Stephania pierrei – rare caudex plant with climbing vines
Stephania pierrei Diels, still widely known under its synonym Stephania erecta Craib, is a remarkable caudiciform plant with a spherical woody base up to 30 cm in diameter. Each spring, delicate climbing stems emerge, producing rounded peltate leaves and small yellowish flowers. In winter the plant retreats into dormancy, leaving its sculptural caudex exposed.
Important note on availability
For ethical reasons we no longer offer Stephania pierrei for sale. This species has been subject to significant overcollection in the wild, threatening natural populations. Until sustainable, verifiable cultivation sources are established, we choose not to trade this plant. We encourage collectors to research the conservation issues surrounding Stephania pierrei before seeking it elsewhere.
Unique features of Stephania pierrei
The caudex resembles a stone-like bonsai trunk, storing water to survive dormancy. From this base, twining vines emerge seasonally, often growing several metres long. Leaves are almost perfectly circular with a central petiole attachment, giving a parasol effect. When trained on a support, the plant creates a curtain of elegant foliage above its sculptural caudex.
Taxonomy and natural background
Described by Ludwig Diels in 1910 (Pflanzenreich IV 94: 276), this species is native to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand and Indochina. It was first introduced as Stephania erecta Craib, but later reclassified as Stephania pierrei in honour of French botanist Jean Baptiste Louis Pierre. Its natural habitat is seasonally dry forest, where the caudex allows survival through periods without rain.
How to care for Stephania pierrei (informational)
- Light: Bright, indirect light, avoiding harsh midday sun.
- Water: During growth, water when top soil dries; in dormancy, keep almost dry, only enough to prevent shrivelling.
- Substrate: Fast-draining mineral mix; avoid heavy soils.
- Temperature and humidity: Prefers warmth (18 – 30 °C); protect from cold below 12 °C.
- Fertilizer: Balanced, diluted fertiliser during active growth; none during dormancy.
- Support: Provide trellis or hoop for vines to climb.
Common issues
- Rot: Almost always from overwatering or poor drainage during dormancy.
- No shoots in spring: Dormancy may be prolonged; check caudex firmness and wait for warmth.
- Weak vines: Caused by low light or poor feeding.
Etymology
Stephania comes from Greek stephanos (“crown”), referencing the crown-shaped anther arrangement in flowers. The epithet pierrei honours Jean Baptiste Louis Pierre. The synonym erecta refers to the upright shoots sprouting from the caudex.
Conservation message
Stephania pierrei is at risk from unsustainable collection in its native range. Please support conservation by only obtaining plants from verified cultivated sources. We actively avoid trading in wild-collected material and focus on sustainable horticulture.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
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Stephania pierrei
Sale price€19,00
FAQs about Stephania pierrei
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