String of Hearts, Ceropegia woodii, is just one of many species in the genus Ceropegia that are grown as ornamental houseplants. Native to southern Africa, from Zimbabwe to eastern South Africa, this tender perennial plant in the milkweed subfamily (Asclepiadoideae) of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) is sometimes classified as C. linearis subsp. woodii. The genus name was given by Linneaus to describe his interpretation of the appearance of the flowers as fountains of wax from the words keros, meaning wax, and pege meaning fountain. The species name honors John Medley Wood (1827-1915), who collected native African plants after he retired from the East Indian Merchant Service. Plants in this genus have many other colorful common names including bushman’s pipevine, lantern flower, necklace vine, parachute flower, and wine-glass vine. Rosary vine is another commonly used name for C. woodii, along with chain of hearts, collar of hearts, and hearts entangled (because the stems easily enmesh). 
C. woodii, like many other species in this genus, is a straggly evergreen climber that in its native habitat would scramble up through other vegetation. The stringy, purplish stems are vining or trailing, making this best grown as a hanging plant. The stems can also be trained up a small trellis or topiary frame. The simple, opposite heart-shaped leaves are 1-2 cm wide and long. They are dark green marbled with silver on the upper surface and green to purple on the underside. In other species the leaves may be rudimentary or absent, or may be thick, fleshy and succulent. With the tangled, trailing branches that can grow several feet long hanging down, the regularly spaced leaves resemble a row of large beads. Small tubers, which look somewhat like little potatoes, form at the nodes or leaf bases along the stems – another possibility for the “beads” that give rise to the common name of rosary vine. 
Plants bloom primarily in the summer and fall, but flowers may appear sporadically at odd times throughout the year. The interesting and distinctive inch-long flowers have a bulbous base and tubular corolla in shades of white to pale magenta. The five purple petals are fused at the tips, forming a cage-like canopy so the blossoms resemble a small inverted pink vase. The waxy flowers are lined with small, downward pointing hairs that act to trap small flies that are attracted by the scent and enter the flowers. The insect is prevented from escaping until the hairs wither, and the fly departs with a pollinia (a mass of pollen grains that are transferred as a group) attached that can then be transferred to the next flower the fly visits. Hummingbirds may be attracted to the flowers if the plants are outside during the summer. If pollinated, the flowers are followed by horn-shaped seed pods characteristic of the milkweed family. The stacks of flat seeds each have a pappus – very similar to milkweed seed – that help the seeds disperse on the wind. 
C. woodii is a caudiciform plant, having a swollen basal stem or root for water storage. It develops a woody caudex at its base as it matures. Underground the roots may develop tubers, which can grow to fill a pot. There are few cultivars of this plant. C. woodii f. variegata has cream and pink variegated leaves. 
String of hearts can be grown outdoors in tropical or subtropical climates, but is also an easy indoor plant that can be grown in a west or south facing window. In strong light the leaves will be darkly colored, with distinctive marbling; if not given enough light they will be a light green color. Houseplants can be moved outside during the summer, but need to be acclimated gradually to the stronger light to prevent sunburn. If moved outside, be sure to bring indoors before the first frost. During the winter, keep the plants in relatively warm conditions, above 60°F. This succulent plant requires excellent drainage and should be watered only when dry. It tolerates dry soil much better than soggy soil; it is easily killed by overwatering. Use a freely-draining potting medium with plenty of coarse sand, perlite or other large-textured component to allow for adequate drainage (such as a commercial cacti & succulent mix. Allow the soil to dry between deep waterings. Fertilize infrequently (at most monthly when actively growing) with half strength houseplant fertilizer. Plants do best with a winter rest period. Reduce watering in winter and do not fertilize during this time. This houseplant does best when crowded, so repot only when necessary. Repotting is best done in spring before new growth starts. It has few pests, but mealybugs can be a problem. 
String of hearts is easily propagated from cuttings, from tubers produced at the base of the leaves or by seed. The aerial tubers (“beads”) can be planted to produce new vines. Just press the tuber – preferably still attached to the vine – into the soil of another pot. Keep the growing medium moist, but not wet, to encourage rooting. Once the tuber is rooted and growing in a few weeks or months, sever it from the original plant. Cuttings from the vine are best rooted with bottom heat. – Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin – Madison
String of hearts, also known by its scientific name Ceropegia woodii, is one of the most sought after trailing succulents. Its heart-shaped leaves dangling in long vines give it a whimsical and romantic look that has made it incredibly popular. But where can you find string of hearts plants for sale?
I’ve scoured the web and found the best places to buy these charming trailing succulents online. Whether you’re looking for common green varieties or rare cultivars, I’ll share the online stores that offer string of hearts for sale so you can get your hands on these cute plants!
Overview of String of Hearts
Before jumping into the different places to buy string of hearts online let’s do a quick overview of this trailing succulent.
String of hearts is native to South Africa and Swaziland It’s part of the Apocynaceae family and gets its common name from its heart-shaped leaves The leaves grow along vining stems that can trail several feet long,
There are a few different varieties of string of hearts:
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Ceropegia woodii – The most common variety with green heart-shaped leaves.
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Ceropegia woodii var. variegata – A variegated variety with yellow or white edges around the leaves.
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Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii – Also known as string of needles, it has thinner, more elongated leaves.
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Ceropegia woodii f. kupensis – Called the Orange River string of hearts, it has more tubular leaves that are a deeper green.
String of hearts enjoy bright, indirect light and need less frequent watering than other succulents. Their long trailing stems look beautiful in hanging baskets or trailing over the edges of containers.
Now that you’re familiar with this trendy trailing succulent, let’s look at the best places to buy string of hearts plants online.
In Succulent Love
One of my favorite online stores for buying string of hearts is In Succulent Love. This specialty succulent shop offers an amazing selection of common and rare string of hearts varieties.
Some of the string of hearts you can buy from In Succulent Love include:
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Ceropegia woodii – The classic green heart leaf string of hearts, available in 4 inch and 6 inch pots. Prices range from $9.99 to $14.99.
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Ceropegia woodii ‘Silver Glory’ – This is the most popular variegated variety, with leaves edged in white. 4 inch pots are $9.99.
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Ceropegia woodii var. variegata – Another variegated option with yellow margins on the leaves. 6 inch hanging baskets are $13.99.
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Ceropegia woodii ‘String of Arrows’ – A rare variety with more cylindrical, arrow-shaped leaves. 4 inch pots are $19.99.
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Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii ‘String of Needles’ – The string of needles variety has long, tubular leaves. 4 inch pots are $16.99.
The sizes are perfect for hanging baskets and they have really healthy, full plants. I highly recommend In Succulent Love for finding both common and rare string of hearts varieties for sale online.
Mountain Crest Gardens
Another excellent online succulent store that offers string of hearts for sale is Mountain Crest Gardens. They have a great selection of the basic Ceropegia woodii variety.
At Mountain Crest Gardens you can buy:
- 4 inch string of hearts for $11.99
- 6 inch string of hearts for $19.99
- 8 inch hanging baskets for $32.99
They also sell discounted succulent plugs and cuttings. You can get a 3.5 inch string of hearts cutting for just $4.99 to propagate your own plant.
I really like that Mountain Crest Gardens sells larger 8 inch hanging baskets that are full and trailing. Their string of hearts are healthy and they have some of the best prices available online.
The Sill
The Sill is a trendy online plant shop that offers string of hearts among their selection of houseplants.
At The Sill, you can buy:
- 6 inch string of hearts for $38
They only offer the basic green Ceropegia woodii variety, but their plants arrive in beautiful plastic nursery pots. The Sill is a bit pricier than other online succulent stores but provide high-quality plants.
Succulents Box
Succulents Box is an online succulent nursery with free shipping on orders over $75. They carry a few varieties of string of hearts.
You can buy the following string of hearts at Succulents Box:
- Ceropegia woodii 4 inch – $9.99
- Ceropegia woodii 6 inch – $15.99
- Ceropegia woodii ‘Silver Glory’ 4 inch – $12.99
Their string of hearts are full, healthy plants and come potted in plastic grower’s pots. The prices are very affordable and they offer free shipping on larger orders.
Steve’s Leaves
Steve’s Leaves is a family-owned online succulent shop with a large selection of string of hearts plants and cuttings for sale.
Some of the string of hearts varieties they offer include:
- Ceropegia woodii 2 inch – $5.95
- Ceropegia woodii 4 inch – $9.95
- Ceropegia woodii 6 inch hanging basket – $16.95
- Ceropegia woodii ‘Silver Glory’ 4 inch – $12.95
- Ceropegia woodii var. variegata 4 inch – $12.95
They also sell 3-4 inch string of hearts cuttings for just $6.95 so you can propagate more plants.
Overall, Steve’s Leaves has very fairly priced string of hearts plants and cuttings for sale online. Their plants are packaged well for shipping too.
Etsy
Searching on Etsy is a great way to find rare string of hearts varieties for sale.
Etsy sellers offer more uncommon cultivars like:
- Ceropegia woodii ‘Rubra’ – Has darker green leaves
- Ceropegia woodii ‘Pink Princess’ – New leaves emerge pink before fading to green
Etsy is the perfect place to find unique string of hearts varieties you can’t find at most mainstream online plant stores. The plants are a little pricier but you get rare finds.
Local Nurseries
Don’t forget to check your local plant nurseries and garden centers too! Many will carry string of hearts plants once they are in stock seasonally.
The benefit of buying string of hearts locally is you can personally inspect the plants before purchasing. Make sure the vines are long and full without any dead leaves or bare patches.
As string of hearts gain popularity, more and more local nurseries are adding them to their inventory of houseplants and succulents. But supplies tend to be limited, so call ahead to check availability.
Growing String of Hearts from Cuttings
One of the easiest ways to get string of hearts for free is by propagating cuttings from a friend or family member’s plant. Just ask for a vine cutting about 6 inches long and place it in water or soil to root.
Within a few weeks, you’ll have a fully rooted string of hearts plant to pot up or add to your own arrangements. Growing from cuttings lets you get more of these lovely succulents for free.
Caring for Your String of Hearts Plant
Once you get your hands on string of hearts, you’ll want to take good care of them. Here are some tips:
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Provide bright, indirect light to prevent leaf scorching. Some morning sun is fine.
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Use a well-draining soil and don’t overwater. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
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Average indoor temperatures around 65-80°F are ideal. Keep away from cold drafts.
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Increase humidity if possible by misting the leaves daily or using a pebble tray.
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Remove any dead leaves or stems to keep the vines full and trailing.
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Add fertilizer monthly during the growing season for optimal growth.
With the right care, your string of hearts will thrive for years to come! The trailing vines look beautiful in hanging planters or trailing over shelves and tables.
Where to Find String of Hearts Plants for Sale
Some of my top recommendations include In Succulent Love, Mountain Crest Gardens, and Steve’s Leaves for the best selection and prices for these charming vining succulents.
With proper care, string of hearts make a lovely addition to any home. Their whimsical trailing vines with heart-shaped leaves live up to their romantic name!
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FAQ
Why are strings of hearts expensive?
String of Hearts plants can sometimes be more expensive due to their popularity and unique appearance. The variegated varieties, like the String of Hearts Variegata, can be particularly sought after and therefore priced higher. The variegated factors contribute to their higher price compared to other houseplants.
Does Home Depot sell String of Hearts?
Live String of Hearts Houseplant in 6 in. Grower Pot. Pay $4.96 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card.
Where is the best place to plant String of Hearts?
Your String of Hearts will enjoy a bright spot. In order to grow a bushy String of Hearts, they will need a high light spot in your home. A spot that gets good afternoon sun would be perfect for this little guy. Just be careful in the height of summer as direct sunlight can scorch his lovely, heart-shaped leaves.
What is the lifespan of a String of Hearts?
It thrives in bright, indirect light and prefers well-draining soil, making it relatively low-maintenance. ▪️ Longevity: With proper care, String of Hearts plants can live for many years, even decades.
What is a String of Hearts plant?
The String of Hearts plant, also known as Ceropegia woodii, is a creeping succulent vine native to the drier parts of southwest Africa. It is commonly called the String of Hearts due to its stems, which trail on the ground and root where they touch, forming dense mats.
What is a string of Hearts succulent?
Sharing is caring! The string of hearts, a wonderful trailing succulent (also known as Ceropegia woodii), is low maintenance, easy to take care of, and a plant that really grows on you. What’s more, it’s straightforward to propagate (and it grows fast), so you will be sharing these with your friends in no time.
How to grow a String of Hearts plant?
Grow the String of Hearts plant on a shelf or window sill and allow it to hang down. The low-maintenance String of Hearts plant, also known as Ceropegia woodii or chain-of-hearts, is a creeping succulent vine native to the drier parts of southwest Africa. To grow it, place the plant in a suitable location and let it hang.
Where do string of Hearts Grow?
The String of Hearts plant is native to southwest Africa. It grows by trailing on the ground and rooting where its stems touch, forming dense mats. The ‘Chains or Strings’ can grow up to 4 feet long. Grow this low-maintenance plant on a shelf or window sill and allow it to hang down.
What is a String of Hearts vine?
The String of Hearts vine, also known as Ceropegia woodii, is a creeping semi-succulent vine native to southwest Africa. Its stems trail on the ground, rooting where they touch and forming dense mats. The “Chains or Strings” of this vine can grow up to 4 feet long.
Do you need to fertilize a string of Hearts plant?
A String of Hearts Plant requires the use of an organic houseplant fertilizer or a slow release fertilizer during the growing season. Shop now for free shipping over $99 at Garden Goods Direct. This plant has stunning cascading heart-shaped foliage that is perfect for any bright area of your home. It doesn’t need to be fertilized during the winter dormant season.