SANParks.org Forums

Please identify flower/plant

Hi WarthogB,

This looks like Ceropegia racemosa (Bushman`s Pipe). There are about 4 subspecies of which this is one. It grows to about 2 metres and is found from KZN, through Mpumalanga and northwards into Africa. It grows in bushy areas wher it can climb. Best propagated from cuttings.

Yhank you Oryx for the identification. Your remark of it being found from KZN northwards is of interest to me as this plant is in Port Elizabeth and I fing it flowers about evry third year?
As you can see it is wound round and round , do you suggest I loosen it and what help will that be. It is also in a small pot, should I transplant to a bigger and what size pot?

WarthogB, sorry if it is in P.E. then it would be Ceropegia ampliata, not C. racemosa. C. ampliata is widespread from the Eastern Cape and northwards via KZN. It is probably best used as a container plant where space is restricted around a house. It is a natural climber so I would loosen it and let it climb, depending on your situation. If not, then a reasonably sized pot should do. Light sandy soil with good drainage and a little compost should do the trick but water it sparingly and withhold water in winter as it occurs naturally in summer rainfall areas.

...so would I be correct in assuming it has aerial roots along the vine to catch moisture in the air...looks like in the middle pic...
Very interesting plant, thanks for posting

Yes Lockie it is an interesting plant. In her book Transvaal Lowveld and Escarpment, Jo Onderstall describes it as "a vigorous succulent scrambler wit a smooth fleshy stem that produces roots from nodes that come into contact with the soil".

This is Ceropegia ampliata