UK hardiness
Is String of Turtles hardy in the UK?
Peperomia prostrata
More about string of turtles in the UK
String of Turtles and the RHS hardiness rating
String of Turtles is rated RHS H1b (min 10-15°C; can summer outdoors but needs warmth) — heated glasshouse — subtropical, meaning it withstands winter minimums of about 10 to 15°C. In practice that means it indoors over winter; can summer outdoors once nights are reliably mild. The RHS rating describes an absolute minimum temperature, not an average: a single hard frost below its band is what does the damage, so the question is always "what is the coldest night my garden gets?", not "what is a typical winter here?".
This follows the RHS plant hardiness rating system (H1a–H7), the UK standard. For the US growing-zone view, see the string of turtles USDA hardiness guide.
Does UK region change it?
Because string of turtles is frost-tender, UK region matters less than the simple rule: it does not stay outdoors over winter anywhere in the UK. Treat any time outside as a summer holiday — bring it back indoors once nights drop toward 10°C, well before the first frost, and acclimatise it over a week each way so the leaves do not shock.
Overwintering string of turtles in the UK
Overwintering string of turtles in the UK means bringing it in: a bright, frost-free room or a heated glasshouse, watered sparingly while growth slows. Do not leave it against cold glass or near an unheated porch. Move it back out only after the last spring frost has passed for your area.
String of Turtles UK hardiness — frequently asked questions
Is string of turtles hardy in the UK?
String of Turtles is rated RHS H1b (min 10-15°C; can summer outdoors but needs warmth) (heated glasshouse — subtropical, hardy to about 10 to 15°C). It is not winter-hardy anywhere in the UK and must be overwintered under cover.
Can string of turtles stay outside over winter in the UK?
No. String of Turtles is frost-tender — a UK frost will kill it. Bring it indoors or into a frost-free greenhouse before the first autumn frost and return it outside only after the last spring frost.
What does RHS H1b (min 10-15°C; can summer outdoors but needs warmth) mean?
RHS hardiness ratings run H1a (needs a heated glasshouse) to H7 (survives below -20°C). String of Turtles's rating, H1b (min 10-15°C; can summer outdoors but needs warmth), means heated glasshouse — subtropical — it tolerates winter minimums of about 10 to 15°C. The rating is an absolute minimum, not an average.
How do I overwinter string of turtles in the UK?
Overwintering string of turtles in the UK means bringing it in: a bright, frost-free room or a heated glasshouse, watered sparingly while growth slows. Do not leave it against cold glass or near an unheated porch. Move it back out only after the last spring frost has passed for your area.
Does UK region change whether string of turtles survives?
Because string of turtles is frost-tender, UK region matters less than the simple rule: it does not stay outdoors over winter anywhere in the UK. Treat any time outside as a summer holiday — bring it back indoors once nights drop toward 10°C, well before the first frost, and acclimatise it over a week each way so the leaves do not shock.
More string of turtles care
See the full string of turtles care guide, its temperature & humidity needs, and the US (USDA) hardiness version of this page.