Cynanchum viminale

A leafless, green-stemmed succulent milkweed (formerly Sarcostemma viminale) that sprawls as a shrub or scrambles through other shrubs and over rocks. It spans an enormous range from South Africa across tropical Africa and the Indian Ocean to India, Southeast Asia and Australia, so it is forgiving in cultivation: give it strong light, warmth, free drainage and a drier, cooler winter. The milky sap is caustic, so wear gloves when cutting it.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restClimber

Where it grows wild

Grows in very varied open habitats, from dry bushland, rocky outcrops and desert ranges to the margins of monsoon forest and coastal scrub, typically scrambling over shrubs or rocks in strong light.

Mostly lowland: wild records run 0 to about 1,900 m, median about 250 m.

Southern AfricaTropical AfricaMadagascar and western Indian Ocean islandsArabian PeninsulaIndian subcontinentSoutheast Asia and southern ChinaAustraliaNew Caledonia

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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More Cynanchum

Cynanchum socotranum

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, unmodified.