Ceropegia woodii (String of Hearts)

String of Hearts earns its name the moment you see it: long, wire-thin stems strung with pairs of small heart-shaped leaves, each one dark green marbled with silver on top and flushed purple underneath. The vines trail and tumble from a hanging basket or a high shelf, sometimes reaching several feet in length, swaying with any movement in the room. Native to the cliffs and rocky outcrops of South Africa, this plant is part of the succulent world, which means it stores water in its thick little leaves and in the small pinkish tubers that form along the stems like beads on a rosary.

Care is genuinely simple. String of Hearts wants bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, and watering only when the soil has dried out completely. In summer and fall it produces small tubular flowers in purple and pink that look almost otherworldly up close. Those aerial tubers along the vines can be pressed gently against moist soil to start new plants, making this one of the easier houseplants to share with friends.

It's a plant that looks delicate but is surprisingly forgiving of neglect, making it a good match for busy households or anyone building their confidence with indoor plants.