Return to the House Plants Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
Posted by shortrachael Zone 5 (shortrachael@gmail.com) on Sun, Feb 10, 08 at 0:41
| My mother stole a cutting from a plant at one of her workplaces before she died, and it grew into a beautiful plant before my ferrets got into it and murdered it. I have no idea what the name was or where it originally came from, so here goes...
It was a trailing plant with many small (1/2 - 3/4 in. long on average, I'd say), rather heart-shaped leaves that were at least semi-succulent (they felt soft and fleshy). The tops were dark green and shiny, the bottoms a little lighter. Its habit was incredibly thick; before too long it hung down covering the pot entirely, and only the rope holding the pot up was visible over the plant. I never saw it bloom at all. The stems were incredibly tender and prone to breaking if you tried to move the pot and set it down at all, they weren't woody at ALL. It wasn't a vining plant.
I've been keeping an eye out for this plant at garden stores for a couple of years now and haven't seen it at all, if someone out there knows what I'm talking about I'd love the opportunity to replace it. It was a truly beautiful plant, and didn't require much care at all. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
| From what you said, I have a few guesses. I will try to post links or pics to give you something to on. 1. Some type of goldfish plant (nematanthus) There are many types, but here is a pic of a pretty common one. Some of mine never go woody, and it kind of fits. Not sure about the heart shape, but it is still possible. 
2. Some type of a hoya. Again there a ton of different types, some more succulent than others, and again some do not go woody, and some are more hanging than vining or climbing. Some have heart shaped leaves. Hoya bella
 Hoya Lacunosa
There are more hoya's, but that is a start. It would be helpful it you had seen it flower, but you said you did not. If these don't seem at all right, I can think up a few more suggestions, and others here should chime right in. Good Luck in your search. |
RE: Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
RE: Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
| So far the hoya seems closest, and I'm using Google and eBay to try to track down a species that seems closer to what I have in mind. The leaves were smaller and closer-spaced on my plant than on the pictured Hoya Lacunosa, but judging by the species I've seen so far it could very well be part of that family. Thanks! |
RE: Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
Hoya Curtisii seems close,
http://members.tripod.com/khedlund/hoyapdl/curt.html But this plant had dark green leaves... upon further investigation, hoya nummularioides seems like a close match, now I'd just have to get my hands on one, which seems to be difficult. |
RE: Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
Here is a link that might be useful: Wondering Jew
RE: Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
RE: Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
| Since you say your Mother got the cutting from where she works, I was thinking it may be a more 'common' plant. Your description made me think of Peperomia scandens. aargh...had to log in yet again!! What's up with that? |
Here is a link that might be useful: Peperomia scandens
RE: Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
| How about Ceropegia woodii, aka String of Hearts or Rosary Plant? It has flowers which are not very showy, and tends not to bloom inside. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Images of Ceropegia woodii
RE: Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
| Thanks nanw, that could be it! It looks like it has the really tender stems that I remember, too. From the comments on DavesGarden, "Because it is so large, I sometimes crush trailing stems and breakk them off when I rotate the plant. It's like a worm! It will quickly grow new foliage from severd stem." Sounds just like the plant I remember! Wonderful. Thanks so much for all your help, guys. |
RE: Trying to identify a trailing houseplant...
| | |
| Succulent heart-shaped leaves on delicate stems, hanging in a thick cluster... sounds absolutely like String of Hearts. |
|
|
|
|
