Ceropegia Species

Per Rogier van Vugt, the Head Gardener at the greenhouses at Leiden University and at Hortus botanicus Leiden, from Noordwijk, Zuid-Holla...Read Morend, Netherlands:
"This is Ceropegia haygarthii a climbing species from Southern Africa. Even though pretty much every species in this genus is rather weird, this one probably makes one of the weirdest flowers of all. They are produced in abundance on the fast growing vines and have a pleasant lemon scent. It is very easy to grow as a houseplant but absolutely cannot stand stagnating water. Luckily it is easy to reproduce by cuttings, so killing the roots by over watering is not the end of the plant. When kept to dry it will drop the leaves. This is not harmful but in summer it should receive water as soon as the soil fully dried out to keep the plant growing. This plant has a large distribution area and comes in a range of different forms. This means that if you purchase one you should ask the grower what the flower of that particular clone looks like, or ask a picture of the flower to prevent disappointment. On the other hand. The variation also makes it worthwhile to grow several different plants."

This is a very easy grower for me - indoors in a very bright, sunny south window.
It takes very little water.
It defoliates...Read More during the winter and reappear in the spring when new growth also begins.
This Ceropegia has 'twining' stems.

From South Africa's Cape Province, Ceropegia haygarthii is a semi-evergreen climbing succulent reaching a height of about 6'. It bears ov...Read Moreal leaves and a profusion of small white to pinkish white flowers in summer. Each flower has a purple-spotted tube that widens towards the top and terminates in 5 abruptly narrowed segments whose fine tips are twisted together into a long, stalk-like structure with a hairy knob at the end.
Zones 9-12
CULTIVATION:
Requirements vary according to origin and growth habit. Nearly all Ceropegia species are warmth-loving plants, requiring protection from frosts, and must be grown indoors in cool climates. A few are easily grown in any well-lit position, for example the well-know Ceropegia linearis, but the more highly succulent species demand a perfectly drained, open soil mix with good humus content which should be kept fairly dry in winter. The more vigorously twining species need supporting wire. Propagate from seed, cuttings or stem tubers.