Overview
Ceropegia is a genus consisting of semi-evergreen and evergreen, mostly trailing succulents, including shrub and subshrub species. It is estimated to contain 217 distinct species, originating from Africa, Southern Asia and Australia. This genus has many well-known abbreviations including rosary vine, lantern flower and parachute flower. It contains species widely favoured as houseplants for their unusual tubular flowers, heart-shaped succulent leaves and straightforward propagation.
Propagation
Cuttings
Can be easily propagated from leaf or stem cuttings, simply remove cleanly from the mother plant, let callus for a few days until the wound has closed and place on soil or in water and wait for roots to develop. Roots usually grow first to seek out water, followed by new leaves. This may take anywhere from a week to a few months.
Special Features
Indoor plant
May be grown indoors. Typically these are kept for their appearance, they may have attractive flowers or foliage. There is also increasing evidence for the psychological benefits to growing plants indoors.
Pot plant
Suitable for growing in containers. Potted plants are great for softening garden corners and adding vibrancy to an area. They have immediate effects and are easily alterable, allowing experimentation with plant placement in the garden.
Attractive flowers
Produces attractive blooms. Flowers have evolved a range of signals to attract (or deter) certain pollinators. Signals come in many shapes and forms including colouration, scent, temperature, flower structure and toxicity. These factors all feed into what makes a flower attractive and the evolution of these different traits has resulted in the huge diversity of flowers we see in the world today.
Attractive leaves
Attractive foliage plant. These are typically grown for their foliage over their flowers.