Hoya Plant - How to Grow and Flower Indestructible Hoyas
by Laurelynn Martin and Byron Martin
Hoya Plant Care
Hoya plants have always made excellent house plants, but most recently, we have seen a resurgence in their popularity with home gardeners. Maybe because hoyas are so adaptable to the busy lifestyle since they only require partial sunlight and little attention to watering. Hoyas have magnificent flowers and waxy leaves and most are vining plants that climb easily on a trellis for support. Plus, when you get home from work and are just too darn tired to water any plants, hoyas have the ability to pull moisture out of the air and use it to maintain their well-being and then after a good night’s sleep you can give them a thorough drink of water.
Hoyas originate from tropical Asia, the Pacific Islands and Australia are usually trailing or climbing vines although some will grow in an upright fashion. They are most often found growing as epiphytes in tropical forests where they climb into or hang from the branches among a mix of other epiphytic plants. Since they often grow lower in the canopy, as well as at the tops of trees, they have a great adaption to varying light levels.
When given favorable growing conditions, hoyas flower with a wide variety of colors and flower sizes from the tiny ¼” in diameter for each flower to the giants that are 4” in diameter for each flower. The blooms often form clusters, or umbels, of many flowers which creates a magnificent show for the gardener to enjoy. Some hoya flowers have a waxy appearance; others are fragrant.
Popular Hoya Plants
Logee's has an extensive selection of hoya plants for sale. Here are a few customer favorites:
Wax Plant ‘Subspecies’ (Hoya australis) tops the list for fragrance, flower size and robust growth. Sweetly scented blooms emerge in clusters up to 3” in diameter throughout the summer months. ‘Subspecies’ is easy to grow and a reliable bloomer.
Hoya ‘Iris Marie’ (Hoya hybrid) is an easy-to-grow hybrid with lightly fragrant blooms that appear on and off throughout the year. The starry white blossoms with purple centers arise from loose clusters on the rambling vines.
Another interesting hoya is Cinnamon-Scented Wax Plant (Hoya lacunosa). A rich cinnamon fragrance fills the night air from the flower umbels. Although the flowers are much smaller than the Giant Wax Plant, this variety packs a powerful punch when it comes to fragrance. This dense, vining, small-leafed plant grows well in a hanging basket. Its trailing stems dangle over the pot’s edge and each flower umbel has several fragrant, fuzzy, white blossoms. Blooming spring to fall, it re-flowers off the old spurs. This easy grower tolerates a dry atmosphere and neglectful watering.
Hindu Rope Plant ‘Crispa’ (Hoya carnosa) has an unusual form with weeping stems covered with curly, convoluted, waxy leaves that have the appearance of a rope. There is also a variegated variety whose coloring makes it highly desirable. Unlike many hoyas, this one doesn’t climb. In time, however, the heavy stems will droop over the edge of the pot, making it ideal for hanging baskets. Clusters of small, fragrant, pink flowers emerge among the tightly-held leaves.
Fragrant Wax Plant (Hoya odorata) is known for its intensely sweet fragrance. Its small white blossoms emerge along the leaf axis throughout the fall months. Like most hoyas, shortened day length stimulates bloom.
Hoyas are truly an indestructible variety of plants and their flowers, unusual forms and fragrance make them well worth the little effort needed to be successful with this unusual genre.
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Last Updated: June 20, 2020