Why will I love it?
Also known as the valentine plant, the sweetheart plant (Hoya kerrii) is a succulent vine adorned with heart-shaped leaves, symbolising love and friendship, and an ideal gift for a loved one.
Light or shade?
Thrives in bright, indirect light.
Where should I put it?
On a bedside table or desk near a north- or east-facing window, where you can admire its cuteness.
How do I keep it alive?
Caring for your sweetheart plant is relatively straightforward. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, then saturate during summer months until water drains from the bottom of the pot. During the winter, reduce watering frequency drastically, to prevent soil becoming waterlogged. Use a well-draining cactus/succulent potting mix to ensure proper drainage.
Did you know …
The sweetheart plant is commonly presented not as a trailing vine but as a solitary leaf cutting. It is native to south-east Asia, where it grows as an epiphyte (on the surface of another plant) in tropical forests. In addition to its heart-shaped leaves, it may produce clusters of small, star-shaped flowers with a sweet fragrance.
• This article was amended on 15 March 2024. Confusion during the editing process led an earlier version to mistakenly give the species name of the sweetheart plant Philodendron scandens, rather than the sweetheart plant featured in the column, Hoya kerrii.
