Very unusual aroid from Africa

Cercestis mirabilis is one of nature's most fascinating plants, literally looking as if it had been hand-painted. The young leaves have dark green areas with raised white areas that feel as if the plant was printed in an embossing machine, hence the name "African Embossed Aroid".

Like many other aroids, Cercestis undergoes a complete transformation as it ages. Young leaves look like little works of art with fern-like patterns, likely to look less appetizing to herbivores, while adult leaves grow large (up to 120 cm long!) and develop natural perforations and slits between the nerves.

Botanical description

The natural range of this species is from Benin to Uganda and Angola. It is a liana that grows primarily in the wet tropical biome. In the wild, this plant climbs trees and can reach 7-15 meters in height in the African rainforests.

Care

Cerestis mirabilis grows very slowly and often doesn't get more than a few new leaves per year. It thrives in bright indirect light, a porous soil, such as our aroid soil, which should be kept slightly moist between waterings.

The plant produces long "flagella" (shoots) that can develop new seedlings when they reach the soil, a natural way of spreading and a great way to propagate Cercestis at home. Buy Cercestis mirabilis online!