There’s something so peaceful and relaxing about having plants inside your home. I love the look of plants tucked into the corners of a room, displayed on coffee tables and kitchen counters, and gracing bathroom vanities.
Plants help a room feel grounded.
I especially love unique plants. Plants that act as conversation starters, and not something you see everywhere you go.
I’m always on the look-out for unique plants, and with this new series on my blog, I’ll share my latest finds with you. Here’s the latest find…
Climbing Rock Plant (Stephania Perrieri)
This rare plant is so unique! The vining plant has heart shaped leaves that grow out of a caudex that looks like a rock. It’s this caudex that makes the plant a conversation starter.
About the Plant
The Climbing Rock Plant is native to Southeast Asia. There are other varieties of the Stephania plant, such as the more common Stephania Erecta.
This plant grows well in either full sun or partial sun, and can grow up to 2 feet tall with vines up to 30 feet long. The caudex can grow up to 1 foot in diameter. It’s a very easy-to-grow plant with light watering needs (water more when vines are growing) and make sure the soil is well-drained.
The thing that makes this plant most unique is it’s caudex. As the plant grows, the caudex develops an interesting shape with lots of curves and furrows and looks like a rock. The heart-shaped vining leaves are easy to train on any structure and the vines grow quite fast. If you prune the plant, more leaves will form and the plant becomes even more dense. If grown outside, this plant will lose it’s leaves in the Winter. But if grown indoors as a houseplant, the leaves remain on the plant and it continues to grow.
There is no evidence that this plant is poisonous.
Why I Love It
I love that this plant looks like a rock with leaves growing out of it. I think it’s very unique, definitely not a plant you see very often.
I also really like that the plant is easy to grow, and that it grows fast.
Where to Buy
You can buy this plant online Logee’s for $14.95 in a 2-1/2″ pot.
If you have more suggestions for unique or unusual plants, please leave a comment below.
I ordered 2 in 2 1/2” pots (one for me and my son) about 6 months ago. The “rock” has not developed on either. I assume this is something that develops in maturity. No signs of one at this point. Wondering how long till they begin to develop and do the caudex grow rapidly once developed?
Hi Angie – The caudex definitely develops more as the plant ages, and becomes even more gnarled over time. The Stephania perrieri I have had a small caudex already when I bought it. I would say that the plant grows rapidly, but the caudex is much slower to grow and develop than the vines. I would say that it takes about 2-3 years before you see noticeable growth in the caudex.
A plant in a 2-1/2″ pot is fairly young. You might want to repot it in a slightly larger pot – maybe a 4″ pot, keeping part of the caudex slightly above the soil level. That should help the caudex have more room to grow.
I hope this helps! Have fun growing your plants!