Hoya (Hoya spp.)

Hoya Plant Features

If you're looking for an exotic indoor plant that's very easy to grow, take a look at hoya (also sometimes called wax plant). This unique houseplant is a vine (but don't worry; it's not a fast-growing one!) that has thick, waxy leaves and clusters of star-shaped waxy flowers. It's among the most tolerant of all houseplants.

Hoya is often sold in hanging baskets, but its lanky stems will trail from tall containers such as urns, too. Or, if you want to grow it upright, supply a trellis or totem and let hoya supply vertical interest to your home or office.

Hoya Questions?
Our houseplant experts like talking with other indoor gardeners! If you have questions about hoya or other houseplants, just send us an email!

Buy Hoyas
Look for Costa Farms' hoyas at your local garden center. See a list of our retailer partners.

Hoya Growing Instructions

Grow your easy-care hoya in low, medium, or bright light. It tolerates low and medium light, but doesn't typically bloom in these conditions. Like most flowering houseplants, the more light hoya gets, the more flowers it will produce.

Water hoya when the potting mix dries out. Don't worry if you forget to water it once or twice -- this houseplant doesn't mind. It thick leaves and stems help the plant store water for cases just like that. Do take care not to overwater it; hoya would rather be too dry than too wet and can suffer from root rot if the potting mix stays wet for extended periods.

Low-maintenance hoya doesn't require a lot of fertilizer, but you can fertilize your hoya if you want it to bloom better. Use any general-purpose houseplant fertilizer and follow the directions on the packaging.

Note: Hoya is not meant for human or animal consumption.

Water

Low water needs
Light

Indoors: High light

Indoors: Low light

Indoors: Medium light
Colors

Green

Variegated
Special Features

Purifies the air

Super-easy to grow

Complement your Hoya

Pothos
Pothos is exceptionally easy to grow and is a lovely houseplant companion for wax plant.

Dog Tail Cactus
Dog tail cactus is an interesting and lovely accent to wax plant.

Our favorite varieties

Bilobata

sp. aff. burtoniae

One of the smallest hoyas we grow, H. bilobata has little green leaves often flushed with red. This flowering houseplant has little clusters of reddish-purple flowers on and off throughout the year. Note: It's also sometimes called as Hoya 'Tsangii' or 'DS-70'.

Variegated Rope Plant

Hoya compacta 'Variegata'

One of the most unusual hoyas, this variety has tight, curled and twisted leaves that are variegated with golden yellow. It's also sometimes called Hindu rope plant and Mauna Loa rope plant.

Narrow-Leaf Hoya

Hoya kentiana

We love narrow-leaf hoya's fun texture; the long, narrow leaves are fun! It's little clusters of creamy flowers are lovely, as well.

Mini Waxleaf Hoya

Hoya lacunosa

Mini waxleaf hoya has small, shiny leaves and wonderfully fragrant white flowers.

Variegated Rope Plant

Hoya compacta 'Regalis'

An interesting flowering houseplant, this variety has twisted leaves variegated with cream and can produce fragrant reddish-pink flowers. It's also sometimes called Hindu rope plant.

Rope Plant

Hoya compacta

Among the most unique houseplants, rope plant has curled, contorted leaves all along the stem, almost making the plant look like it's a braided rope. If it sees enough light, it will produce reddish fragrant flowers.

Variegated Hoya

Hoya carnosa 'Rubra'

A fun flowering houseplant, this variegated hoya has cream-splashed leaves and reddish-purple stems. Note: It's also sometimes called Krimson Princess.

Shooting Stars

Hoya multiflora

One of the most dramatic flowering houseplants, shooting stars produces clusters of fragrant, star-shaped white flowers.

Stripes Hoya

Hoya curtisii

Offering fun variegated foliage (the leaves are stippled in silvery dots), Stripes hoya has little leaves with a great texture.

Brevialata

Hoya brevialata

Showing off rounded leaves, H. brevialata also has charming red-and-white flowers that are delightfully fragrant.

Tricolor Hoya

Hoya carnosa 'Variegata'

This easy to grow houseplant has green leaves variegated with white and pink. It's wonderfully charming in a window! It's also sometimes called Krimson Queen.

Hoya Heart

Hoya kerrii

The rooted single leaf of this heart-shaped hoya makes an ideal gift for any occasion. If the cutting has a node attached, it will grow into a large vine. If not, it not put out new growth and keep its single heart-shaped leaf.