This guide will take you on a tour of 29 different varieties to choose from. It will help you in your decision-making process, so you can pick the hoya (or three) that will bring you the most joy – and that will adapt well to your growing conditions. We’ll have a look at where each of these species comes from, but more importantly, what they look like – including leaf color, texture, and pattern, as well as flower colors. And since there are some identity crises amongst the hoyas, we’ll try to get to the bottom of a few of those as well, sorting out which varieties may sometimes be confused for each other or referred to by multiple names. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Ready to get started on our hoya tour? Here’s a sneak peek at the stops along the way: While this article will provide some care tips for certain species that tend to have slightly different needs than average, you can brush up on your basics by reading our complete guide to growing and caring for hoyas.
1. Albomarginata
H. kerrii var. albomarginata has large, succulent leaves that are shaped like hearts. These are green with creamy yellow margins. Sometimes labeled H. kerrii ‘Variegata,’ this is a variegated naturally occurring variety of H. kerrii. Variegated waxhearts plants have white flowers with russet centers, and vines that can eventually reach 13 feet long. You can learn more about caring for sweetheart hoya in our growing guide. The first thing you need to know is that this slow-growing species and the available varieties are priced based on the number of leaves on the plant – with the most inexpensive specimens being just a single rooted leaf. However, when choosing a specimen to purchase, while they are cute, be aware that sweetheart hoyas with only one heart-shaped leaf in the pot sometimes fail to ever mature into vining plants.
2. Australis
H. australis is a fast-growing, easy-care hoya that makes an excellent choice for beginners. H. Kerri Albomarginata Live Plant This top pick is native to Australia, as well as Borneo, Fiji, New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and the Wallis-Futuna Islands. Its species name, australis, doesn’t mean “from Australia” as you might have guessed, but is a Latin term meaning “from the south.” Also called “New South Wales wax flower,” H. australis has light to medium green leaves that are broad and oval-shaped or elliptical. New growth has a lovely reddish hue. There are many gorgeous subspecies and cultivars of this plant, but the natural species is pretty in its own right.
3. Bella
I would argue that all hoyas are beautiful, but this pick in our roundup actually has beauty in its name: H. lanceolata ssp. bella, also known as “beautiful hoya.” Grown outdoors, this species is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a and 11. H. Australis Live Plant in 4” Pot Interested in creating space for H. australis? You’ll find one in a four-inch pot from Hirt’s Gardens via Walmart. Native to Assam, India, and Myanmar, you may sometimes see it labeled as its own species, H. bella. Barring any potential confusion, this is the same plant. With light green leaves that are shaped like arrowheads, these are on the small side, measuring up to one inch in length. The flowers are white with pinkish-purple centers, and they hang delicately from short vines. Unlike most hoyas you will encounter as houseplants, this type drops its peduncles after flowering.
4. Bilobata
Native to the Philippines, H. bilobata has small to medium-sized, elliptical, grayish-green leaves. The leaves are smooth and have a matte look, with a noticeable lighter-colored central vein. Bella does not like to grow in soil that has been allowed to dry out all the way, and it can tolerate more direct sun than many hoyas. H. Bella Live Plant in 4” Pot If you want to bring this beautiful hoya home, you’ll find plants available in four-inch pots from Wayfair. Inflorescences are small, about the size of a quarter, and the flowers are dusty pink with yellow centers. One of the smaller species of trailing and climbing hoyas, the vines of this type tend to reach only about two feet long. H. bilobata prefers bright, indirect light and temperatures between 60 and 95°F. This species bears a very strong resemblance to, and is also often confused for, an unnamed species known currently as H. sp. aff. burtoniae, based on its affinity to the named species. As such, H. burtoniae also looks very similar. When comparing the two, H. bilobata has rounder, smoother leaves, while H. sp. aff. burtoniae has fuzzier and more elongated leaves. If you’re not confused enough yet, H. sp. aff. burtoniae, a species with more widespread commercial availability, is often erroneously identified as H. bilobata. Long story short – feel the foliage. If it’s fuzzy, the specimen is not H. bilobata.
5. Callistophylla
Let’s leave behind those confusing lookalikes for now and move on to a seriously striking hoya – this next selection is quite a knockout. H. callistophylla has large, leathery leaves that are light green, patterned with contrasting darker green veins. These leaves can reach over nine inches long and three and a half inches wide. The species name callistophylla comes from the Greek words kallisto and phylum, which mean “most beautiful leaf” in combination. (Watch out H. bella, H. callistophylla is giving you a run for your money!) A tropical species native to Borneo, this hoya likes slightly cooler, humid conditions, and its vines can reach six to 12 feet long – or more. The inflorescences of ‘Chelsea’ bloom from late spring to summer and are large and rounded, bearing pale pink flowers with red centers. Its vines can grow to be six feet long, or sometimes more. H. callistophylla Live Plant in 4” Pot Keep this species away from curious kids and pets – it may be toxic if ingested.
6. Chelsea
‘Chelsea’ is one of many enticing cultivars of H. carnosa, a species that’s native to eastern Asia. This cultivar has thick, medium-green leaves that are slightly cupped and rounded with pointed tips, making them almost heart-shaped. The thick foliage of this hoya indicates increased drought tolerance, and it prefers to dry out fairly thoroughly between waterings.
7. Curtisii
Our next selection has mottled foliage, but I don’t think this species will garner divided opinions like ‘Sumatra,’ which we’ll get to later in the roundup. Like the species plant and its other cultivars, ‘Chelsea’ is considered nontoxic to dogs and cats. H. Carnosa ‘Chelsea’ Live Plant in 6” Pot H. curtisii has leaves that are light to olive green with silver mottling, and they have a somewhat rough texture, like reptile skin. The leaves are small, just half an inch across, and they have a unique shape – round with pointed ends that remind me of Christmas tree baubles. The green colors in this species’ foliage will turn to red or maroon when exposed to brighter light. Native to Borneo, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, this species has a creeping growth habit, creating a dense mat of vines that will grow to be one and a half to three feet long. Also called “Aloha wax plant,” the flowers of H. curtisii are reflexed at maturity, cream colored with red to orange centers and a velvety texture.
8. Diversifolia
H. diversifolia is a tropical species native to the coastal forests of Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Sumatra, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Java, and the Philippines. H. Curtisii Live Plant in 6” Pot Its leaves are thick and oval-shaped or elliptical, and they can grow to be five inches long by two and a half inches wide. The vines can reach eight feet long or more, and these plants produce flowers that are creamy pale pink with darker pink centers, lasting for several days. This species is quite adaptable to different growing conditions, and it is used ethnobotanically in Malaysia. In some of its native habitat it is critically endangered, so purchase this one only from responsible vendors.
9. Elliptica
This next species is native to Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, and with its prominent leaf veins, it bears a resemblance to the aforementioned H. callistophylla. But while that species has light green leaves with dark veins, H. elliptica has white veins on its elliptical green leaves, which create a prominent tortoiseshell pattern. The flowers are white with a pink tinge, and they have reddish centers.
10. Eskimo
‘Eskimo’ is an H. krohniana cultivar that brings together visual interest and compelling textures. H. Elliptica Live Plant in 6” Pot The foliage of the species plant is green with delicate silvery gray splashes on heart-shaped, oval, or elliptical leaves that are pointed at the tips. Native to the Philippines, it has leaves that are leathery with raised veins. These grow up to one and a half inches long by three-quarters of an inch wide.
12. Krinkle 8
This cultivar of H. carnosa looks similar to ‘Chelsea’ but its leaves are longer, and oval-shaped rather than round. ‘Eskimo’ has foliage that is even more heavily flecked with green, cream, and silvery gray splashes. H. Krohniana ‘Eskimo’ Live Plant in 6” Pot
11. Kentiana
Also called “narrowleaf hoya,” H. kentiana is native to the Philippines and has long, narrow green leaves with dark green edges, growing on vines that can reach eight feet long or more. With bright light or some direct sun, the edges of the leaves will develop a reddish color. The maroon flowers with yellow centers bloom between late spring and early fall. They last for a week, and are said to smell like butterscotch. H. Kentiana Live Plant in 4” Pot
13. Linearis
If you thought hoyas were all about big, thick, wide leaves, H. linearis will change your preconceived notions. This selection has quite narrow leaves that are long, thin, and slightly fuzzy, with pointed ends. The flowers of this variety are pale pink with red centers, on vines that reach six feet long or more. H. Carnosa ‘Krinkle 8’ Live Plant in 6” Pot H. linearis grows wild in tropical and subtropical, high-elevation regions of China, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, and India, including the Himalayas. Mature plants in hanging baskets make quite the impact as the foliage takes on a delicate, wispy appearance. The vines can grow to be six feet long or more, producing pendant clusters of white flowers with yellow and red centers that have a citrusy fragrance. This hoya likes slightly cooler growing conditions, so don’t let it spend time outdoors when the weather is hot.
15. Mathilde
How about an extra dose of texture in your hoya? ‘Mathilde’ has thick, succulent foliage covered with small hairs that give it a velvety texture. The flowers and stems of this variety are also slightly fuzzy. The leaves of ‘Lisa’ are oval or elliptical, and delicately variegated with various shades of green along the edges, transitioning to creamy tones at the center. Each leaf is different, and looks as if it’s been painted with watercolors. New foliage emerges in pinkish tones. H. Australis ‘Lisa’ Live Plant in 2” Pot Is ‘Lisa’ calling your name? You can purchase a live starter plant in a two-inch pot from Hirt’s Gardens via Walmart.
16. Mindorensis
H. mindorensis has elliptical leaves that are glossy, with a medium green hue – but this is a hoya you’ll want to grow for its fantastic flowers. The flowers of ‘Mathilde’ are white with reddish centers, and the vines grow to six feet long or more. H. ‘Mathilde’ Live Plant in 2” Pot This tropical species is native to Borneo and the Philippines, and its species name, mindorensis, means “from Mindoro Island.”
17. Multiflora
Our next selection has a different growth habit than most of the other hoyas we’ve met so far. H. multiflora is a trailing shrub with a bushy growth habit whose species name means “many flowered.” H. Mindorensis Live Plant in 6” Pot This species has elliptical, medium to dark green leaves that can grow up to eight inches long and two and a half inches wide. H. multiflora is a tropical, terrestrial species that is native to Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. One of this hoya’s common names, “shooting stars,” comes from the shape of its flowers, which have reflexed corollas. The blooms are cream and gold with a sweet fragrance. Though it will rarely grow so large indoors, the stems of H. multiflora can reach up to eight feet long. This hoya needs indirect medium or bright light.
18. Obovata
Growing hoyas for their flowers is certainly a noble pursuit, but let’s face it – most of us are entranced by their foliage and this next selection has such loveable leaves! You might also consider providing it with a more water-retentive potting medium than what you use for your other hoyas – as long as the drainage is still excellent. H. Multiflora Live Plant in 4” Pot H. obovata is native to Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and has large, glossy, oval-shaped dark green foliage that often has a light “splash” pattern of silver and pink flecks. The leaves are approximately three inches long by nearly three inches wide, and their shape inspired this plant’s species name, obovata.
19. Pachyclada
H. pachyclada is native to tropical and subtropical habitats in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. This epiphytic species is hardy in Zones 9b to 12. Indoors, it should be placed in bright, indirect light to encourage its “splash” pattern. H. Obovata Live Plant in 6” Pot Thick, oval-shaped leaves are grayish-green with contrasting lighter-colored veins, and these can grow up to four inches long by two inches wide.
20. Rebecca
‘Rebecca’ is a hoya that’s particularly easy to love. It has colorful foliage, adorable flowers, and a fascinating origin story. With quite succulent foliage, this hoya does well drying out between waterings. H. Pachyclada Live Plant If you find this thick-leaved hoya with yellow flowers appealing, you can purchase a live plant in a two-inch pot from Hirt’s Gardens via Walmart. An interspecies cross, ‘Rebecca’ is a natural hybrid that occurred in 2007 or 2008 in the now defunct nursery of plant breeder and nurseryman Antone Jones between specimens of H. sp. aff. lacunosa from Langkawi Island and H. obscura. This cross was selected by Mr. Jones, but initiated by a pollinator. ‘Rebecca’ has elliptical leaves with prominent veining, and will take on a reddish hue in bright light.
21. Retusa
You might want to classify our next selection, H. retusa, under the header “weird and wonderful flora.” The vines of this hybrid can reach six to eight feet long, or more. ‘Rebecca’ Live Plant in 4” Pot Native to India and the eastern Himalayas, this unusual species is also called “grass-leaved hoya.” It has long, thin, green leaves with blunt ends, giving the species a wispy appearance. Its foliage grows in clusters. Differing from the wispy foliage of H. linearis mentioned above, the tips of the leaves widen at the ends and they are slightly indented.
23. Shepherdii
Also known as “string bean hoya,” H. shepherdii has long and narrow dark green leaves that look very much like green beans, and are three and a half inches long. Mature plants with long vines have particularly stunning foliage. Vines grow to two feet long or more, and in the summer, the plants produce flowers that appear individually rather than in clusters. These are white with purple centers. H. Retusa Live in a 4” Pot
22. Rubra
Showcasing the amount of genetic diversity that is contained in a single species, ‘Rubra’ is another cultivar of H. carnosa, one that looks nothing at all like ‘Chelsea’ or ‘Krinkle 8.’ This variety has variegated, lance-shaped leaves with creamy white leaf centers and green margins. Vines and new foliage are often bright pink, giving it one of its other names, ‘Krimson Princess,’ sometimes incorrectly spelled ‘Crimson Princess.’ These houseplants will revert to green without sufficient light. Make sure to provide this and other variegated cultivars with bright light, or they may lose their variegation. H. Carnosa ‘Krimson Princess’ Live Plant
24. Splash
‘Splash’ is a cultivated variety of H. pubicalyx, a tropical species native to the Philippines. The flowers are white with red centers, forming in small clusters. I think they look like they are sculpted out of icing and belong on top of a cake – but note that these are not edible! String Bean Hoya Live Plant The natural species has medium to dark green foliage adorned with flecks of silvery gray, while this cultivar has more dense splashes of silvery gray. The leaves are long, pointed ovals, three inches long by one and a third inches wide. The vines of this hoya can grow to be 10 feet long or more. H. pubicalyx ‘Splash’ has flowers that are a dusty rose hue with lighter pink or cream coronas and darker reddish pink centers. They are covered in fine, dense hairs that give the flowers the appearance of having white edges.
25. Sumatra
‘Sumatra’ is a cultivar of H. caudata, a native of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, where it grows on trees or rocks. All varieties of this species prefer bright indirect light and higher humidity – at least 60 percent. This type is easy to grow, making it a good starter hoya. H. Publicalyx ‘Splash’ Live Plant in 4” Pot This is a hoya that proves that old saying, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The leaves of H. caudata are elliptical, have a dull sheen, and are olive green and brownish, mottled with grey. They can be quite large, up to six inches long by nearly three inches wide, and have slightly wavy margins, which make them look like they’ve been roughed up a bit. Some may find this species to be gorgeous, while others may not! Perhaps this is one of those species that will appeal most to collectors looking for the thrill of owning a new type of hoya. The foliage of ‘Sumatra’ is redder than that of the natural species, and with brighter light, the foliage turns a darker, purplish hue.
26. Sunrise
Known and loved for its beautifully colored foliage when exposed to bright light, ‘Sunrise’ is an interspecies cross between H. lacunosa var. pallidiflora and H. obscura. H. caudata ‘Sumatra’ requires more moist conditions than many other hoyas and it shouldn’t be allowed to dry out between waterings. Keep its soil moist but well-draining. Smaller specimens can be kept in terrariums. H. Caudata Live Plant in 4” Pot It has medium-sized, elliptical leaves that take on a reddish hue when provided with some direct sunlight – a technique called “sun stressing.” When the foliage is red, this hybrid cultivar’s contrasting light green veins become very apparent.
27. Tricolor
Another variety of H. carnosa, ‘Tricolor’ is very similar to ‘Rubra’ but with reversed variegation. This hoya can be a bit tricky to get settled in, but once it acclimates, it will take off. ‘Sunrise’ Live Plant in 6” Pot
28. Variegata
Here’s another hoya that has both fabulous texture and attractive coloring. The vines grow six feet long or more and produce large, showy umbels with red-centered pink flowers. H. Carnosa ‘Tricolor’ Live Plant in 4” Pot ‘Variegata’ is often referred to on plant labels as a cultivated variety of H. latifolia, a species native to Borneo, Java, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sumatra, and Thailand.
29. Wayetii
We’ve arrived at the last hoya destination on our tour today, a hoya that has all the best qualities of these houseplants – mounds of thick foliage, fragrant flowers, and a little touch of the unusual. This hoya produces vines that reach six feet long or more, and fragrant flowers that are creamy white tinged with pink. These bloom in late summer to early fall, and last for several days. H. Latifolia (Macrophylla) Albomarginata Live Plant in 2” Pot Be careful if you decide to bring ‘Variegata’ into your home – you might find yourself utterly distracted, popping out of your chair to go and gaze at this lovely hoya. H. wayetii is a native of the Philippines. Its thick, medium-green leaves are canoe-shaped, measuring three and a half inches long and three-quarters of an inch wide. They have dark green edges. When exposed to bright light, these dark green edges can turn maroon. Some specimens produce young leaves that have a reddish-orange tint. The flowers of H. wayetii are mauve with purple centers, fragrant, and velvety. Sometimes the coronas have yellow tips. This species is fairly compact, with vines reaching just two and a half to three feet long. H. Wayetii Live Plant in 2” Pot You may not have room for a canoe in your living room, but perhaps you can make space for some canoe-shaped leaves – and rest assured, they will take you places!
Up to the Eaves in Leaves
With all these gorgeous vines, it’s hard not to want to fill up your entire home with one of each of these incredible varieties. Do you have any favorites that weren’t mentioned here? And what do you think about the weird and wonderful H. caudata ‘Sumatra’? Be sure to let us know! And if you’re trying to identify a species or cultivar and can’t quite figure it out, feel free to share your photos in the comments section below and we’ll try to give you a hand. If you’re interested in choosing some buddies for your hoyas, why not keep digging into your houseplant reading right here, starting with these articles?
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