Photo by Megan Edwards

String of Hearts

By UCCE Master Gardener Megan Edwards

Ceropogia woodii

Planting areas: USDA  Zone 9-10

Size:  2” tall with 4-9 ft vines

Bloom season:  spring and summer

Exposure: 3-4 hrs indirect sunlight

Pruning needs: minimal

Water needs: minimal

“Sweet Hearts”

Among the many varieties of succulent-like evergreen trailing vines, String of Hearts is sure to steal your heart!  This native of Zimbabwe and South Africa is also known as the Rosary Vine for its aerial tubers which appear as small white beads. Its cascading vines with mauve vase-like blooms, petite heart-shaped leaves of mottled green, or variegated pink, cream and green, make it the darling of hanging baskets, shelves, and windowsills. Let's look at four important care habits that promote healthy “hearts”: light, temperature, watering, and repotting.

String of Hearts does well when it receives three to four hours of bright indirect sunlight, followed by afternoon shaded. Petals which receive too little sunlight will become more pale and less marbled, while those with too much sun can be scorched and show curled brown leaves.

Ambient temperatures of 60ºF or above, and humidity of 40 to 50% is ideal for String of Hearts. However, if this temperature range is unpredictable, it's safer to grow String of Hearts in pots that can be relocated inside when the temperature dips too low.

With its succulent-like features, this plant does not tolerate wet soil for long and can suffer root rot, however, a blend of well-draining succulent and cactus soil helps to avoid this issue. Give String of Hearts a thorough watering during the spring and summer when the top two to three inches of soil is dry. Limit watering for two to three week periods during its fall and winter dormancy.

A healthy String of Hearts will fair better when re-potted during the summer every two or three years. Beware however, that it may show transplant shock from damaged roots with less ability to transport water and nutrients, causing the leaves to temporarily appear curled.

With these simple care habits in mind, what's not to love about sweet String of Hearts!

Advice to Grow By Workshops

Our next Advice to Grow By Workshop will be September 16th, 2023, at 10:00 to 12:00 p.m. in our Garden of the Seven Sisters Demonstration Garden at 2154 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo. The topic will be “Turf Replacement-lawn removal and lawn alternatives.” The workshop is free and open to the public. Docents will be available after the workshop until 1:00 pm. If inclement weather, the workshop will be canceled.

You can view workshops on Instagram live at slo mg or visit our You Tube channel at “San Luis Obispo County UC Master Gardeners.”

Visit our website at ucanr.edu/sites/mgslo/ or email questions to anrmgslo@ucanr.edu.

UCCE Master Gardener Helpline offices:

San Luis Obispo: 805-781-5939 (Monday and Thursday 1:00 to 5:00)

Arroyo Grande: 805-473-7190 (Wednesday 10:00 to 12:00)

Templeton: 805-434-4105 (Wednesday 9:00 to 12:00)