Shade-loving hoyas

These glossy beauties are once again the darling of indoor plant collectors, including TAMMY HUYNH, who shares her growing and styling tips

Allow me for a moment to wax lyrical about my love of hoyas. It’s hard to believe this remarkable group of vining plants, which are also known as wax flowers, ever went out of fashion.

Hanging baskets full of glossy, trailing leaves and waxy, perfumed flowers were ubiquitous in the 1970s home, then they fell out of favour and were banished to a corner of the shadehouse, or discreetly hung on the side of the pergola.

Now, it’s hip to be hoya. Hundreds of different species and cultivars are available, each with intriguing foliage forms, textures and patterns. There are the old favourites, Hoya carnosa and H. australis, but there are also varieties such as the highly sought after H. kentiana ‘Variegata’ and H. obovata ‘Splash’, which have transformed collecting into a frenzied bidding war. Some of these plants have fetched prices in the hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

Fortunately, hoyas are relatively easy to propagate, so you don’t need to take out a bank loan to enjoy growing them.

position & care

Hoyas are native to tropical parts of South East Asia, the Pacific Islands and pockets of northern Australia, which means they grow best in warm, frost-free climates. However, depending on the species, you can enjoy them in cooler climates if they are given protection inside during winter.

Position your hoyas in a spot with bright, filtered light, under a patio or indoors near a north-facing window. While hoyas will grow in deeper shade, they won’t flower well. On the other hand, keep them away from direct sun, as this can burn or bleach their leaves. Most hoyas are epiphytic, so they demand perfect drainage. Growing them in a loose, open medium such as orchid mix is ideal.

Hoyas generally prefer being allowed to dry out between waterings. If they receive too much water, the leaves will become soft and yellow, and fall off. Feed with controlled-release fertiliser in spring, and mist foliage with a flower-boosting, soluble fertiliser once buds appear.

When hoyas have finished flowering, don’t cut them back, as they can flower again from the same cluster. If the leaves are becoming sparse or patchy, prune them back to just above a node, to encourage a bushy habit. You can use those clippings to grow more (see ‘Time to strike’, overpage).

Hoyas like to stay pot-bound, so there’s no need to re-pot them for at least a couple of years – although I have seen specimens growing in the same pot for many years, and continuing to thrive. Top up the potting mix and lightly dress with organic pellets to help refresh the mix.

styling tips

The diverse forms and growth habits of hoyas lend themselves beautifully to styling spaces in and around the home. A classic way to display them is in a hanging basket, where their vines spill and scramble over the sides, creating

FROM TOP

The leaves of Hoya carnosa ‘Tricolor’ are pink, white and green; H. australis is a popular Australian native.

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT

Stems of slim, hairy leaves on H. linearis cascade like a waterfall; the miniature wax plant H. bella is magnificent spilling over the edges of its pot; H. carnosa ‘Purple Pride’ has variegated leaves.

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The twisted, waxy leaves on Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ make it a real talking point.