Hoya Carnosa White

The white Hoya carnosa (L. f.) R. Br. 1810 is certainly one of the best known and most widespread Hoya species. Hoya carnosa is distributed from East Asia (India, China, Japan and Taiwan) over South East Asia as far as to the Pacific Islands and Australia. Primarly described by the great Linnaeus (1741-1783) as Asclepias carnosa L. f. in 1782, Hoya carnosa plants are in cultivation more than 200 years. The tropical climber belongs to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) and contains a white, milky sap, which may cause skin irritations and stubborn stains, whilst plants get injured and the sap leaks. Hoya carnosa plants reach lengths of several meters and are considered as easy to grow or a “beginner Hoya”. Nowadays the slow-growing, woody vine is available in several variations of color, like white, pink and red and different leaves, like variegated or crumpled (Hoya carnosa Krinkle 8). Hoya carnosa requires warm temperatures, at least half a day full sun or bright light and a well-drained potting mix. Flowers, grouped in “flowerballs”, are highly fragrant, strongest in the evening hours.

Don´t move or rotate Hoya plants while they set flowers, as they will drop. The tropical waxflower vine has average water needs, but don´t keep plants sogging wet as they are prone to root rot. To induce blooming Hoya plants should be kept a bit cooler (12-15° C at nighttime) during the winter month, waterings and fertilizing should be restricted. The showy waxflower plant flowers, while kept indoors,
in summer, in it´s natural habitat or with optimal conditions nearly all around the year.

Hoya carnosa white
Flower Photography © Orchids Flowers.com
Image: white Hoya carnosa
Photographer: Kitisak “Nat” Jaidee