String of bananas drifts down from a hanging basket the way water moves — unhurried, inevitable, filling whatever space it finds. Native to southern Africa, where it forms low mats beneath the shade of trees, Curio radicans has adapted remarkably well to the constraints of a pot. Its banana-shaped leaves, each with a thin translucent window along one side to draw in light, are a feat of botanical engineering packed into something that looks, at a glance, almost playful.

The key to keeping it healthy is a studied neglect. Bright, indirect light suits it well; direct midday sun will redden and scorch the leaves. Water only when the top half of the soil has gone genuinely dry, and use a gritty, fast-draining mix. The stems root wherever they touch soil, so propagation by cutting is quick and reliable. In fall, small cinnamon-scented white flower clusters may appear among the trailing vines — a small reward for patience, and a reminder that this is, despite appearances, a daisy.