Dischidia nummularia

Dischidia nummularia

Often called String of Nickels, Dischidia nummularia forms slender trailing stems with thick, rounded leaves. The leaf blades are typically around 6–15 mm long, with a fleshy surface and pale peltate scales on the underside.

Stems can climb by adventitious roots or hang in fine strands from a basket or mount, or trail from the edge of a raised planter. The shallow root run and small leaf size make watering interval, pot scale and substrate structure especially important in cultivation.

String of Nickels foliage

• Very thick rounded leaves, usually around 6–15 mm long, with pale scaling beneath
• Fine trailing stems associated with the common name String of Nickels
• Epiphytic or lithophytic growth with roots from the nodes
• Shallow pots, hanging baskets, mounts and ventilated terrariums fit its fine root system
• Close-set rounded leaves on fine pendant strands

Asian-Pacific range and shallow roots

Dischidia nummularia is native from southern China through tropical Asia to northern Queensland. In wet tropical habitats it grows on trees and rocks, anchoring into bark crevices, mossy surfaces, and small pockets of organic matter.

Indoors, the plant usually forms a soft cascade with fine, pendant strands. Regular trimming can create more branching near the crown, while a shallow container keeps the fine roots in a faster-drying zone.

Dischidia nummularia care

• Light: Place in bright indirect light. Small leaves mark easily near hot glass, so use a bright position with softened direct sun.
• Watering: Moisten the mix thoroughly, then wait until the upper half approaches dryness. Hanging baskets can dry quickly around the outer strands.
• Pot scale: Use a shallow pot with drainage. A compact root space keeps fine roots in a faster-drying layer after watering.
• Substrate: Choose fine-grade bark, perlite, coco chips, and a little sphagnum. The mix stays open after repeated watering.
• Humidity: Humid, ventilated conditions reduce crisping on new strands and let moisture clear from dense trailing growth.
• Temperature: Maintain 18–28 °C, especially after watering during cooler months.
• Feeding: Use light fertiliser while stems are extending. Flush the pot if mineral crust appears on the mix.
• Propagation: Root 5–8 cm stem sections with several nodes in a warm, humid container with airflow.

String of Nickels strand checks

• Wrinkled leaves: Check pot weight and root condition. Dry roots and stressed fine roots can both leave the foliage soft.
• Yellow translucent leaves: Review moisture level, root temperature and substrate age. Refresh the mix and improve drying speed.
• Sparse strands: Increase filtered light and trim the longest vines to encourage branching closer to the pot.
• White crust on the mix: Flush with clean water and reduce fertiliser strength.

String of Nickels cut stems

Cut stems and leaves of Dischidia nummularia can release a milky exudate. Trail the strands from a basket or mount away from frequent handling, and rinse hands after pruning or preparing cuttings.

Coin-leaf name origin

Robert Brown published Dischidia nummularia in 1810, and it is accepted in Apocynaceae. Nummularia means coin-like, matching the rounded nickel-shaped leaves; the genus name refers to a two-part floral corona structure.

Dischidia nummularia trails from shallow baskets with fine stems and rounded coin-like leaves.