String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii) is a trailing semi-succulent from southern Africa with heart-shaped, silver-marbled leaves on thread-thin purple vines. It comes in a handful of named varieties, from the classic green-and-silver form to the pink-flushed Variegata and the rounder, silverier Silver Glory. All of them are non-toxic to cats and dogs and grow well in bright UAE apartments. Here is how to tell them apart and what to check before you buy.
What String of Hearts actually is
Ceropegia woodii is a member of the milkweed family (Apocynaceae) native to South Africa, Eswatini and Zimbabwe. It grows from a woody tuber, sends out wiry vines that can trail a metre or more, and produces small lantern-shaped purple flowers when it gets enough light. The leaves are what people buy it for: thick, heart-shaped, dark green with silver marbling on top and often purple underneath.
Because it stores water in its leaves and tubers, it behaves more like a succulent than a typical trailing houseplant. That is good news in the UAE: it forgives a missed watering and does not mind dry air-conditioned air. It does insist on bright light. Our full UAE watering, light and propagation instructions are in the String of Hearts care guide.
String of Hearts varieties you will see for sale
Most plants sold in the UAE are the classic form, but nurseries and collectors trade several named types. They all share the same care needs; the differences are leaf shape, colour and price.
- Classic Ceropegia woodii: dark green hearts with silver marbling, purple undersides and stems. The fastest grower and the most affordable. This is the plant we sell as String of Hearts.
- Ceropegia woodii 'Variegata' (Variegated String of Hearts): leaves edged in cream and flushed pink, strongest on new growth in bright light. Slower and pricier than the classic; the pink fades in low light.
- Ceropegia woodii 'Silver Glory': rounder, almost shield-shaped leaves with a heavier silver wash and a smaller green margin. Compact and popular with collectors.
- Ceropegia linearis (String of Needles): a close relative with long, thin, needle-like leaves instead of hearts. Same care, different look; often grown in the same hanging pot as woodii for contrast.
What a healthy String of Hearts looks like
Buy with your eyes on the leaves and the soil, not the length of the vines. A healthy plant has firm, plump leaves spaced closely along the vine, visible silver marbling, and no soft or translucent patches. The soil should be dry to slightly damp, never soggy, and there should be no smell of rot at the base. Long vines with big gaps between tiny leaves mean the plant was grown or stored in low light and will take months to fill out.
Small tubers along the vines (they look like grey beads) are a good sign, not a problem: they are how the plant propagates itself and mean it is mature enough to be pushed into a fuller shape.
Buying String of Hearts in Dubai and the UAE
Three things matter more here than elsewhere. First, transit heat: a plant that has sat in a 45°C van or lobby will drop leaves for weeks, so buy from a seller that ships in insulated packaging and delivers same or next-day. Second, pot size and soil: many imported plants arrive in dense peat that stays wet in an AC room; repot into cactus mix within the first month. Third, timing: the plant establishes fastest between October and April, when a shaded balcony gives it the light it loves without the summer heat.
Heavenly Plants delivers String of Hearts in a 12cm pot with same-day delivery in Dubai on orders before 1pm, next-day to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, with an alive-on-arrival guarantee. It is one of the plants in our pet-safe collection because Ceropegia woodii is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Styling it in a UAE apartment
String of Hearts is at its best trailing from a shelf or a hanging pot within a metre of an east- or west-facing window. It pairs well with other bright-light trailers such as pothos. It wants to dry out between waterings, so a sealed cachepot with no drainage is the wrong choice; use a terracotta or white ceramic pot with a drainage hole from our pots and planters instead. For gifting, it is the centrepiece of our Sweetheart Romance set.
A little more clarity
Common questions.
What is the difference between String of Hearts and Variegated String of Hearts?
The classic Ceropegia woodii has green hearts with silver marbling. 'Variegata' adds cream margins and a pink flush, strongest on new growth in bright light. Variegata grows more slowly, costs more, and loses its pink in low light. Care is identical for both.
Is String of Hearts a succulent?
It is a semi-succulent. It stores water in its thick leaves and in tubers at the base and along the vines, so it tolerates dry soil and dry air like a succulent, but it prefers slightly more frequent watering than a cactus when actively growing.
Does String of Hearts flower?
Yes. In bright light it produces small, upright, lantern-shaped flowers in dusky pink to purple, usually in the warmer months. Flowering is a sign the plant is getting enough light; plants in dim rooms rarely bloom.
Can I keep String of Hearts in a home with cats and dogs?
Yes. Ceropegia woodii is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs, which is why it is included in our pet-safe collection. Pets may still pull the trailing vines, so hang it out of reach to protect the plant rather than the pet.
