The Silver Dollar Plant, botanically known as Xerosicyos Danguyi, is probably not a succulent you’ve heard of, but it’s certainly one to consider if you’re after a new succulent plant to care for.
This plant also goes by the names Penny Plant, Coin Plant, and Silver Dollar Succulent.
While this species (and its three relatives) are only found in Madagascar, the Silver Dollar Vine is often grown as a houseplant or ornamental garden plant.
Interested in knowing more about Xerosicyos Danguyi? Not sure if this is the right vine for you? Here’s what you need to know.
At A Glance: What You Should Know About The Silver Dollar Succulent
Xerosicyos Danguyi is a relative of cucumber and squash plants, though you wouldn’t think to look at it.
This is an evergreen vine, featuring narrow, delicate-looking stems, and succulent leaves in the shape of coins.
Similar to a cucumber plant, the stems produce tendrils that help the Silver Dollar plant cling onto surfaces and get higher.
This is a plant with a quick growth habit, which is something you should keep in mind if you don’t have a lot of space!
The mouthful of its botanical name derives from the Greek words xeros and sicyos, meaning dry cucumber.
This plant is what’s known as a liana, which means that it is a woody vine that anchors its roots into the soil but scrambles up tall plants and trees to soak up direct sunlight that doesn’t reach the ground.
In its native habitat, it can reach 12 feet long and about 6 feet wide, but it’s likely to be a few feet tall indoors.
Xerosicyos Danguyi Care Guide
Xerosicyos Danguyi isn’t difficult to care for, but it does have some specific care needs that you do need to meet for this plant to thrive. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Ideal Light For Silver Dollar Succulents
Silver Dollar vines need plenty of sunlight, as they are succulents, and while they do grow under tree canopies, the leaves manage to reach direct sunlight.
So pick your sunniest window, and put your Xerosicyos Danguyi within a few feet of it.
A Northern or Eastern-facing window is unlikely to cut it for this plant, so if you don’t have a window that gets a lot of sunlight, and you still want to grow this plant, it’s worth putting it outdoors, or, consider buying a full-spectrum grow light.
What Type Of Soil Does The Silver Dollar Vine Need?
The Silver Dollar vine needs sharply draining soil that provides a lot of oxygen to the roots.
As it is a succulent, put it in the wrong soil, and you will have a big problem with overwatering, as this plant cannot live in generic compost.
While you could turn to generic compost that’s made for succulents and cacti, a better alternative would be to start with cactus compost, and then add some pumice and even some horticultural grit to the mixture, if you have some.
This will help prevent overwatering, as it will stop water from pooling at the roots for too long.
How Hardy Is Xerosicyos Danguyi?
Xerosicyos Danguyi is a fairly hardy plant, considering where it is from!
While it will survive in temperatures just under freezing, the plant won’t thank you for it, and average household temperatures are better for this plant.
When To Water Xerosicyos Danguyi
Xerosicyos Danguyi can take a lot of heat and sun, and it often goes without water for a lot longer than most plants grown as houseplants can tolerate.
This plant needs to fully dry out in between watering. If it doesn’t, this is likely to cause fungal problems and the dreaded root rot, which will quickly kill your Xerosicyos Danguyi.
So it’s always a good idea to check how much moisture is left in the soil before you water your plant, as underwatering is much easier to fix than overwatering when it comes to Xerosicyos Danguyi.
Propagating Silver Dollar Succulents
Silver Dollar vines are easy to propagate, as long as you take your cuttings during the growing season.
It’s a good idea to take stem cuttings from new growth, as this plant material will be vigorous, and it will have a lot of energy.
There is another reason, too. Don’t be tempted to take cuttings from older, established vines, as they won’t grow back in the same place.
That’s not to say they won’t grow back at all, but it will form a new branch just off from where you took the original cutting, which is not a look that everyone likes.
As you would when propagating other succulent plants, set aside your cuttings for a few days to allow the wounds to mostly close up.
Put them in a bright and indirect windowsill for this.
Don’t be tempted to skip this step, otherwise, the cuttings will take up too much water when you plant them, and they will rot before they can start to root.
Once they’ve calloused over, it’s time to plant your cuttings into soil.
What Soil Should You Use For Xerosicyos Danguyi Propagation?
While established Xerosicyos Danguyi plants need sharply draining soil, cuttings taken from this plant need soil that stays a little damper, as the moisture encourages the cuttings to root.
But neither do you want the cuttings rotting, so it is a delicate balance to get right.
A good way of countering this is to use very small pots instead of a tray, preferably terracotta ones, as they don’t hold onto moisture in the same way that plastic pots do.
Instead of using an amended succulent mix, use one straight out of the bag, which will still give your cuttings some moisture.
Plant your cuttings, and then lightly water them, making sure that you let the pots dry out completely before picking up the watering can again.
Once you see new growth on your cuttings, they have rooted, and you can treat them as normal Xerosicyos Danguyi plants.
Final Thoughts
Xerosicyos Danguyi is an unusual vining succulent that would look good in any home, as long as you can give it all the light it needs, which is its fussiest requirement by far.
It’s also important that you pay attention to watering, never overwatering your plant by allowing it to fully dry out in between watering.
This is a good thing, though, as it means it is a plant you can largely leave to its own devices if you have a busy schedule, or not a lot of time to dedicate to plant care.
