Hoya carnosa

PlantFile Report Copyright © 2000 - 2025 Peter Kirkland - www.plantfile.com Plant Profile
Plant
ID 133 Hoya carnosa
Botanic Name Hoya carnosa
Common Name Hoya, Wax Plant
Family Name Asclepiadaceae
Cultivars 'Compacta'
Origin South East Asia, China, Zone 10-11
Growth Type Climber
Bark Type Woody
Foliage Type Evergreen Water Use Medium
No. of Species 200
Growth Habit Climbing-twining Growth Rate Medium
Height 2 - 3 m (7 - 10 ft) Spread 2 m (7 ft)
Plant Overview
This epiphytic or terrestrial twiner has slender woody stems with aerial roots and forms a dense cover. It has thick fleshy glossy dark green leaves and the small perfumed star-shaped flowers appear in a pendent cluster from late spring to autumn.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Elliptical
The thick and waxy dark glossy green elliptical to oblong leaves are up to 80 mm (3 1/8 in) long and have an acuminate apex and a short petiole.
Arrangement Opposite
Margin Entire
Colour Glossy dark green
Size 70 - 80 mm ( 2.8 - 3.1 in )
Flower
Perfume Fragrant Additional Information
Shape Stellate
The outer part of the stellate flowers is white with inner pink. They are arranged in a dense umbel that has 12 to 30 blooms with pedicels that are up to 50 mm (2 in) long. The sweetly scented flowers appear on the same spur every year.
Inflorescence Umbel
Colour Pink
Size 3 - 5 mm ( 0.1 - 0.2 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Capsule Additional Information
Colour Brown
The pod-like capsule is long and cylindrical containing seed with tufts of hair. The small seed is not commonly used and the plant is normally reproduced vegetatively.
Edible No
Bird Attractive No
Size 0 - 0 mm ( 0.0 - 0.0 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained moderately fertile, organic rich, ample moisture, pH 6.0-7.5
Container Pots, tubs, planter boxes, crowded root zone induces flowering
Climate Tropical
Aspect Partial shade to full sun in a protected position, drought and frost tender
Pest & Diseases Sunscald, mealy bugs, scale, sooty mould, fungal leaf spot, blight
Fertiliser Mulch with compost and apply liquid fertiliser monthly during the growing period
Pruning Not normally required, flowers should not be removed as new flowers appear on old peduncles
Cultural Uses Propagation
The Wax Plant is grown for its scented pendent flowers and climbing habit. It is trained over lattice or wire fences or used in hanging baskets in shaded courtyard. It is also planted near entrances for its perfumed flowers but is slow growing.
Take cuttings of previous season's wood during late spring to summer and place in a sand / peat mix with bottom heat. Take leaf cuttings during late spring to summer.
© 2025 PlantFileonline. All Rights Reserved.
Designed and Developed by Tatvasoft Australia