String of Hearts
(Ceropegia woodii)
Beginner Friendly Experience Level - Looks delicate and fancy but is surprisingly easygoing once you understand its love of sunshine and dislike of soggy soil.
Personality
A hopeless romantic with a wandering spirit. Graceful, charming, and always looking for the next place to drape itself dramatically.
Water Needs
Likes to dry out completely between waterings. Those adorable little heart-shaped leaves store water, so this plant is much more forgiving than it looks.
Key indicator: Leaves may feel thinner or slightly wrinkled when thirsty.
When in doubt, wait another day.
Light Needs
Loves bright, indirect light and will happily soak up a little gentle morning sun. The brighter the light, the more vibrant the colors and patterns become.
Think: "I'd like a sunny windowsill and a nice view, please."
Pet Safe?
Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. However, curious pets should never be encouraged to snack on houseplants.
Things to watch for
Overwatering
Low light
Root rot
Sparse growth from insufficient sunlight
Most String of Hearts problems can be solved with one simple question:
"Am I watering this too much?"
The answer is often yes.
Common questions
Q: Can I propagate it?
A: Almost ridiculously easily. In fact, it's one of the easiest trailing plants to propagate.
Q. Why are my vines getting so long?
A. Because that's exactly what String of Hearts loves to do. Long trailing vines are a sign of a happy plant.
Q. Can I trim it?
A. Absolutely! Trimming encourages fuller growth and gives you cuttings for propagation.
Q. What are those little bead-like bumps on the vines?
A. Those are aerial tubers—tiny storage structures that can help produce new roots and plants.
Q. Why does everyone become obsessed with these?
A. Because eventually your plant starts looking like it's growing tiny strings of floating hearts.
And that's difficult to resist.
Plant Lore & fun facts
String of Hearts is native to South Africa and Zimbabwe, where it grows as a trailing succulent in warm, sunny environments.
Those tiny heart-shaped leaves have made it a symbol of affection, friendship, and enduring connections.
As the vines grow longer, they create natural curtains of cascading hearts that can trail several feet from a hanging basket.
In other words, it understood cottagecore before cottagecore was cool.
popular varieties
🌿 String of Hearts
Classic silver-green leaves decorated with delicate marbling.
🌿 Variegated String of Hearts
Soft pink, cream, and green foliage with extra whimsy.
🌿 Silver Glory String of Hearts
Larger leaves with striking silver coloration.