String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) vs String of bananas (Curio herreianus)
Side-by-side comparison: mature size, growth habit, colour, light, watering and hardiness.
String of pearls and string of bananas are close Curio relatives with the same trailing habit, and the leaf shape is the whole difference: pearls are near-perfect spheres with a translucent growth window, while bananas are curved little crescents. Bananas are the slightly tougher plant — more tolerant of imperfect watering and a bit more sun — which makes it the better pick for beginners; pearls reward careful, shallow watering with an unmatched look.
| Feature | String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) | String of bananas (Curio herreianus) |
|---|---|---|
| Mature size | Trails 30–90 cm | Trails 30–90 cm |
| Growth habit | Fine trailing stems with pea-sized spherical leaves | Trailing stems with small banana-shaped curved leaves |
| Leaf colour | Light green beads with dark translucent 'window' stripes | Green to blue-green, sometimes flushed purple |
| Light needs | Bright indirect; a little morning sun | Bright indirect with some direct sun |
| Watering | Light, infrequent watering; beads rot easily if kept wet | Infrequent; slightly more forgiving than pearls |
| Hardiness | USDA 10–12; protect below ~10 °C | USDA 10–12; protect below ~5 °C |
String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) profile →
Full identification, care and common problems.
String of bananas (Curio herreianus) profile →
Full identification, care and common problems.