Cynanchum marnierianum "Bundle of Sticks"

Family Apocynaceae

Subfamily Asclepiadoideae

Tribe Asclepiadeae

Genus Cynanchum

Species marnierianum

Common name(s) Bundle of sticks

The perfect plant for one of those moai planters—or any planter that needs a set of dreads. This plant does well in a hanging basket or pot on a high ledge where its stems can grow long and hang freely. In nature the stems will stretch dozens of feet in length down cliffs and root into the ground at any opportunity. Runners may try to root into your other pots, but this plant is slow-growing and won't overrun your collection.

Cynanchum marnierianum does well with a lot of sun and takes on a darker gray-brown coloration. It also thrives in partial shade, but will appear more green. Later in the fall small lime-green flowers emerge on the newer growth. Ants seem to be their pollinator in my observation, so don't be surprised to find ants in the flowers.

The plant can look dorky because it takes a while to fill in horizontally. Stems branch some as the plant matures and additional stems will grow from the base. You can help it along by taking cuttings and poking them straight back into the pot. Cuttings take weeks to root, but are fairly reliable. Use caution: the sap is an irritant!

Options: The "parent" plant you will receive a cutting from is pictured. Cuttings have rooted and show fresh growth. Available as a branched strand measuring at least eight inches. Waiting for a single strand to turn into a lush plant can take a while, so sets of three are also available at buy-2-get-one-free value.