Hoyas, also known as wax plants, are popular houseplants grown for their attractive foliage and fragrant flowers. With over 200 species, there is a hoya plant for virtually every indoor gardener. Here are 30 types of hoya you can easily grow at home.
Trailing Hoyas
Trailing hoyas have vining stems that look stunning in hanging baskets. Their cascading nature also makes them great additions to shelves.
Hoya carnosa
The most popular and easiest to grow hoya is the Hoya carnosa, also known as Porcelain Flower or Wax Plant. This versatile trailing plant has waxy leaves and produces clusters of star-shaped, honey-scented flowers. It thrives in bright, indirect light.
Hoya kerrii
Hoya kerrii, or Lucky Heart Plant, is loved for its heart-shaped leaves. It needs very bright light to prevent leaf loss. Allow it to dry slightly between waterings.
Hoya obovata
An attractive trailing hoya, Hoya obovata has oval-shaped, dark green leaves with white edges. Its umbels of tiny pink-white flowers have a pleasant fragrance. Give it medium to bright light.
Hoya serpens
A fast growing hoya, Hoya serpens has long stems with small, rounded green leaves. It produces clusters of waxy, star-shaped flowers. Grow in a spot with medium to bright indirect light.
Hoya nummularioides
Also called Million Hearts Vine, Hoya nummularioides is desirable for its small, coin-shaped leaves on pendulous stems. It flowers occasionally with clusters of tiny white blooms. Bright light encourages flowering.
Upright Bushy Hoyas
These hoyas grow upright rather than trailing, making them ideal for shelves and tabletops where their bushy shapes can be shown off.
Hoya compacta
Hoya compacta is a compact, shrub-like hoya with elliptical succulent leaves. It blossoms in summer with ball-shaped clusters of creamy white, fragrant flowers. Grow it in bright indirect light.
Hoya shepherdii
An easy hoya with clusters of small, pointed leaves on upright stems. Hoya shepherdii produces striking reddish flowers with white centers that resemble shaving brushes. Give it very bright light.
Hoya australis
Also called the Australian Wax Flower, Hoya australis is a bushy, erect Hoya with rounded, glossy leaves and a woody stem. Flowers are star-shaped and very fragrant. Needs excellent drainage and indirect sun.
Hoya bella
Hoya bella is treasured for its large, waxy leaves and big clusters of sweetly scented pink flowers that bloom in summer. Grow this upright Hoya in bright indirect sunlight.
Hoya macrophylla
Hoya macrophylla has huge, thick oval leaves on short stubby stems. Flowers are pink with white centers. Give it very bright light to partial sun to encourage flowering.
Hoyas for Hanging Baskets
Trailing down from a hanging basket, these hoya varieties can create a beautiful display.
Hoya linearis
Also known as the Hoya Vine, this species has long vining stems lined with oval-shaped succulent leaves. Tiny starry white flowers may emerge if given very bright light.
Hoya bilobata
A fast-growing vining Hoya, Hoya bilobata has divided leaves on long dangling stems that grow quickly.Clusters of starry flowers may emerge in bright light.
Hoya diversifolia
Known for uniqueness of its leaves, Hoya diversifolia has trailing stems with leaves of different shapes – round, heart-shaped, and oval. It flowers occasionally with ball-shaped clusters. Give very bright light.
Hoya lacunosa
An easy to grow Hoya, Hoya lacunosa has olive green leaves with purple undersides. The urn-shaped white flowers are very fragrant. Grow it in a spot with bright indirect sunlight.
Hoya australis ‘Lisa’
A popular variety, Hoya australis ‘Lisa’ has light green leaves with a splash of white. The intensely fragrant flowers have a pink center surrounded by a white corona. Needs very bright light to flower well.
Miniature Hoyas
These dainty Hoyas have petite leaves and flowers, perfect for small spaces or terrariums.
Hoya globulosa
A miniature Hoya, Hoya globulosa has trailing stems lined with fuzzy round leaves smaller than a dime. Tiny starry flowers may appear in summer. Give bright light and even moisture.
Hoya pachyclada
Also called the Miniature Wax Plant, Hoya pachyclada is another small Hoya with trailing stems and thick succulent leaves. It may produce clusters of purple-centered white flowers in bright light.
Hoya imbricata
Valued for tiny overlapping leaves that resemble shingles, Hoya imbricata remains a small trailing Hoya even when mature. Tiny clustered flowers occasionally emerge in very bright light.
Hoya vitellina
This miniature Hoya has round succulent leaves edged in pink. The undersides of the small leaves have a pinkish tinge. Clusters of yellow flowers may bloom in summer if given very bright light.
Hoya wayetii
An especially petite Hoya, Hoya wayetii has leaves smaller than a penny and trailing stems that reach just 12 inches. Perfect for a small hanging basket. Give very bright light for best growth.
Uncommon Hoyas
These unique Hoya species are harder to find but worth seeking out for their unusual foliage and flowers.
Hoya callistophylla
A rare Hoya, Hoya callistophylla has large shapely leaves with undulating edges. Cup-shaped flowers with flared petals bloom in summer. Very bright light encourages flowering.
Hoya fungii
Treasured by collectors, Hoya fungii has heart-shaped succulent leaves edged in pink. Clusters of starry white flowers may emerge from pink buds. Grow this Hoya in very bright indirect light.
Hoya odorata
Grown for its exceptionally fragrant flowers, Hoya odorata has large rounded leaves on trailing stems. Ball-shaped flower clusters have a jasmine-like scent. Give very bright light.
Hoya campanulata
Also called the Bellflower Wax Plant, Hoya campanulata has large heads of downward facing flowers shaped like bells. Its large leaves have scalloped edges. Needs very bright indirect sunlight.
Hoya tsangii
A rare find, Hoya tsangii has large, thick leaves and produces foot-long clusters of tiny starry flowers that release a pleasant scent. Provide very bright indirect light.
Hoyas That Bloom on Leafless Stems
This unique group of Hoyas produce their flower clusters on bare stems after dropping their leaves.
Hoya carnosa compacta
A compact Hoya, Hoya carnosa compacta drops its rounded leaves before blooming. Scented ball-shaped flower clusters emerge on leafless stems. Grow in bright indirect light.
Hoya pottsii
Hoya pottsii drops its large, succulent leaves annually before blooming. Stems produce big rounded clusters of starry, sweetly scented flowers. Give bright light.
Hoya curtisii
Hoya curtisii is known for its giant clusters of tiny starry flowers that bloom on leafless stems. The flowers emit a strong fragrance. Needs very bright indirect sunlight.
Hoya obscura
This rare Hoya has thick succulent leaves that fall off before woody bare stems bloom with small scented flower clusters. Grow it in very bright light.
Hoya lacunosa ‘Snow Caps’
The ‘Snow Caps’ variety of Hoya lacunosa has white-edged leaves that drop before scented white flowers bloom profusely on bare arching stems. Provide bright indirect sunlight.
Conclusion
With enticing flowers and waxy foliage, hoyas make excellent and easy-to-grow houseplants. This list highlights just some of the many Hoya varieties that can thrive indoors given the right care and conditions. Whether you’re looking for trailing types, bushy varieties, blooms on bare stems, or rare collector’s plants, there is a hoya waiting to beautify your indoor space. Give these exotic wax plants a try and enjoy their lush tropical appeal and sweet fragrance.