Ceropegia sandersonii



This plant is native to Mozambique, Transvaal, and Natal. It has been known since 1869.


This plant has medium sized, very succulent, lanceolate leaves: medium thick stems that trail, and fleshy roots. It is fairly easy to grow and when it gets enough light and food it will reward you with a display of remarkable 4 inch flowers. Each year the plant will send up new growth from its roots, these are the stems that will bloom, so at the end summer or some time in the fall, it would be advantageous to cut the plant back. Cutting the plant back will also make it easier to bring inside, it's amazing how long the vine will grow in the course of a summer outside.

AUGUST 2002 - I slowly mastering my new digital camera. These ar all new shots of my sandersonii as it appeared on August 8. 2002. We have had a very dry and hot summer, most of the ceropegias are doing well. Last year I left my rendalii on a stone on the ground where ants and other crawling insects could get at it, I was surprised to find that flowers were pollinated and there were two seed pods. So this summer I left a lot of my plants where they could get into contact with the gound. This sandersonii among them. The trailling vines have made roots in the lawn, and it is blooming on old growth. Most of the ceropegias bloom on new growth; you can cut it back in the fall without fear, new growth coming up either from the roots or sprouting from the cut ends of the old growth.


The new camera allows me to get closer than I was able to with the old one. The picture of the flower top here is shows more detail than I can see just looking at the plant.


Here are two views of the top from underneath the flower.

September 2002 - And now for a look inside the flower.

The dark velvet tips under the center of the umbrella.

And two views of the stigma in its hair lined chamber.