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Ceropegia sandersonii

Umbrella plant

Botanical name: Ceropegia sandersonii
Common name: Umbrella plant
Family: Apocynaceae
Plant Type: Conservatory, House plant

Flower colour:

White

Foliage colour:

Green

Key features:
Dramatic foliage
Flowers

Known as the umbrella or parachute plant due to the shape of its blooms, Ceropegia sandersonii is a semi-carnivorous plant native to Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland.

Its parachute-shaped flowers act as a pit-fall trap. They give off a scent to attract flies down to the base of the corolla (flower tube), where there’s a collection of downwards-facing hairs which prevent the fly from leaving. The fly becomes covered in pollen and is only released as the flower starts to die and the hairs weaken. The fly then carries the pollen to another flower of the same species, in which it becomes trapped again, but deposits the pollen gathered from the previous bloom.

Despite its exotic heritage, it’s fairly easy to grow as a houseplant in the British Isles, often in hanging baskets or pots in the conservatory or greenhouse. It’s also suitable for growing in terrariums.

Grow Ceropegia sandersonii in well-drained compost, in bright light but out of direct sunshine. A windowsill or conservatory is ideal. Water in the growing season only, keep dry in autumn and winter.

How to grow Ceropegia sandersonii

Plant size

50cm height

50cm spread

Sun exposure: Dappled shade
Hardiness: Tender
Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy

Plant calendar

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Plant
Plant	Do not Plant in January	Do not Plant in February	Do not Plant in March	Do not Plant in April	Do Plant in May	Do Plant in June	Do Plant in July	Do Plant in August	Do Plant in September	Do not Plant in October	Do not Plant in November	Do not Plant in December