Origins
String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii) is a trailing succulent with small heart-shaped leaves on thin purple vines. It became the most popular trailing plant of 2019-2021, surpassing String of Pearls.
Why It Dominated (2018-2021)
Advantages over String of Pearls:
- Easier care (more forgiving)
- Faster growth (3-6 feet per year)
- Propagates easily (tubers, cuttings)
- Tolerates neglect (drought-tolerant)
- Prettier flowers (pink balloon-shaped)
Instagram growth: 50K posts (2018) → 600K+ posts (2021).
Variety Collecting (2019-2021)
Common:
- Classic green with silver markings ($10-25)
Rare/expensive:
- Variegated String of Hearts (pink/cream/green, $60-200+)
- Silver Glory (heavy silver splashes, $40-80)
Propagation Obsession
String of Hearts became a propagation favorite:
- Produces aerial tubers (“pearls”) along vines
- Tubers root in 1-2 weeks
- Butterfly method (looping vines over soil)
- Water propagation from cuttings
Trading community exploded on r/TakeaPlantLeaveaPlant.
The Leggy Problem (2020-2021)
As plants matured, they became leggy (long bare vines with leaves only at ends). Plant parents learned:
- Pinch growing tips to encourage bushiness
- Propagate and replant for fullness
- Embrace the trailing aesthetic
Cultural Impact
Proved that easier-care alternatives can overtake trendy-but-difficult plants (String of Pearls). The beginner-friendly trailing plant.
Sources
- Etsy String of Hearts sales data (2018-2021)
- r/StringOfPlants subreddit (25K members)
- “String of Hearts vs String of Pearls” (House Plant Journal, 2020)