Hoya spp.
wax plants
Tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific
Overview
Hoya spp. is a genus of about 200 to 500 evergreen climbing and trailing plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, where most grow as epiphytes on trees. The thick, waxy, often succulent leaves vary from rounded to narrow and may be plain green, silver-flecked, or variegated. Twining stems climb by wrapping around supports or trail from a height, reaching 6-20 feet (1.8-6 m) in length. The flowers are the main draw: rounded umbels of 10 to 40 small, five-pointed, waxy stars in white, pink, red, or yellow, each topped by a glistening central crown (corona), and many release a strong scent at night. Hoya spp. flowers from short woody spurs that bloom again year after year, so the old flower stalks are left in place. The plants need warmth and bright, indirect light and rot quickly in cold, wet soil. Flowering can take a few years and depends on the plant being slightly pot-bound.
Native Range
Hoya spp. is native to tropical and subtropical Asia, from India and southern China through Southeast Asia to New Guinea, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, where the plants grow mostly as epiphytes in warm, humid forests.Suggested Uses
Grown as a trailing or climbing houseplant in hanging baskets and on trellises and hoops, and as an epiphyte in warm conservatories and shade houses. Stems are trained on supports or left to cascade. In frost-free gardens the hardier species are grown on shaded fences and tree trunks.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 20'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Mature Hoya spp. flower mainly in the warm months, often summer into autumn, with umbels that last one to three weeks and a strong night fragrance. Each flowering spur reblooms in following years. Plants may take three to four years, and a slightly crowded pot, before they begin to flower.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white, pink, red, or yellow with a contrasting coronaFoliage Description
deep green, sometimes silver-flecked or variegatedGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Hoya spp. in bright, indirect light in a loose, free-draining mix such as a bark-and-perlite blend with a pH around 6.0-7.5. Let the mix dry partway between waterings, as the waxy leaves store water and the roots rot in constant wet. Keep plants above about 50F (10C) and raise humidity for the thinner-leaved species. Feed lightly through the growing season. The old flower spurs are left on the plant, since new blooms form from them each year. Slightly pot-bound plants flower more freely than those in oversized containers.Pruning
Prune only to shape the plant or remove dead or damaged stems, ideally in spring. Leave the short flowering spurs intact, as cutting them off removes future blooms. Long bare stems can be trimmed back to draw out branching, or trained around a support.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons