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Hoya carnosa

Phonetic Spelling
HOY-ah kar-NO-suh
Description

Porcelain flower or wax plant is a commonly grown houseplant. It has long slender vines covered with waxy, deep green leathery leaves sometimes flecked with silver or creamy white. To make this plant appear denser, wrap its sparsely leaved stems around a bamboo trellis and secure with florist tape or nylon stocking strips. Bright indirect light year-round is ideal. Allow the soil to dry out between watering.  Too wet or too dry soil can cause the leaves to drop.  

Wax plants love high humidity and the foliage appreciates misting. The flowers are star-shaped, in parachute-shaped clusters, with a sweet fragrance and may produce a sticky sap. 

Moving the plant when budding has begun, as changes in lighting can cause the buds to drop.  

Most plants will not produce flowers until they reach an age of 2 to 3 years old.  They can bloom in the spring, summer and even in the fall months.  

This low maintenance plant should be repotted when it outgrows its current container.  It appreciates being nearly pot bound, however, at some point may need to be moved to a larger pot.  The new pot should not be more than 2" larger than the existing.  When repotting, ensure that the plant is not budding or flowering.  At that point, repotting can lead to dropped buds or flowers.  

Should pruning be necessary, it is best done in the early spring before its most rapid growth begins.  Caution should be used to resist pruning the leafless stem where flowers have been produced.  Flowers form on the same stem year after year, cutting off these stems will reduce flowering.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Mealybugs are an issue as well as fungus gnats that are attracted to potting mixes that are too wet.

Occasionally, spider mites can be an issue.  They can appear when the air is too dry.  Misting the plant to provide moisture/humidity can reduce this issue.  

Cold water can shock this plant, water should be at room temperature.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Krimson Princess'
    Variegation at the leaf center.
  • 'Krimson Queen'
    White to pink variegation on the leaf margins.
  • 'Krinkle Kurl'
    Hindu Rope Plant, Porcelain Flower, Wax Plant
  • 'Variegata'
    The leaves are edged in a creamy white.
'Krimson Princess', 'Krimson Queen', 'Krinkle Kurl', 'Variegata'
Tags:
#fragrant#fragrant flowers#houseplant#climbing#interiorscape#waxy#climbing vines#trailing#humidity tolerant#sweet fragrance#vine#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#tropical
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Krimson Princess'
    Variegation at the leaf center.
  • 'Krimson Queen'
    White to pink variegation on the leaf margins.
  • 'Krinkle Kurl'
    Hindu Rope Plant, Porcelain Flower, Wax Plant
  • 'Variegata'
    The leaves are edged in a creamy white.
'Krimson Princess', 'Krimson Queen', 'Krinkle Kurl', 'Variegata'
Tags:
#fragrant#fragrant flowers#houseplant#climbing#interiorscape#waxy#climbing vines#trailing#humidity tolerant#sweet fragrance#vine#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#tropical
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hoya
    Species:
    carnosa
    Family:
    Asclepiadaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    southeast Asia, Japan and Taiwan
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Easy to Grow
    Fragrance
    Shade
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Houseplant
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The shiny flowers are white to pink and hairy, with five-point centers, in clusters of up to 30. They may produce a sticky sap.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    White
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Waxy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The thick green leaves have a leathery, waxy feel. They can be flecked with a silvery or cream white color.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Humidity