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Sweetheart Hoya Hoya kerrii

Phonetic Spelling
HOY-a KAIR-ee-eye
Description

Being a part of the Apocynaceae family, Sweetheart Hoya is a houseplant that has leaves shaped like a heart, making the common name Valentine Hoya quite popular.  It has succulent leaves and a woody stem.  It is considered an epiphyte, which is a plant that attaches to a host plant, typically a tree.  It has aerial roots and a twining growth habit.  

A slow growing plant, its variegated variety is even slower growing.  It can also take 2 to 3 years for your plant to produce flowers.  To encourage flowering, keeping your plant root bound by placing in a small container, while providing several hours of indirect sun daily along with several hours of nighttime darkness.  Allow the flowers to remain on the plant after blooming, as they can rebloom.  Flowers emit their fragrance at night.  

Its preferred environment includes warm and humid locations.  Temperatures between 65 and 80 Fahrenheit is ideal.  Lower temperatures can slow the plants grown and flowering.  Placing in a more humid room of your home, such as the kitchen or bathroom can benefit the plant.  

Watering should be done with room-temperature water, as cold water can send the plant into shock.  The container should provide good drainage to allow the plant to dry somewhat between watering.  

Support this climbing plant with florist wire to train it on a trellis, or place in a hanging container and allow the plant to cascade.

They are often sold as a single leaf, however, those cuttings are not likely to propagate well.  

Its long, bare vines should not be cut back during plant maintenance.  These vines are an indication that new leaves or flowers are being formed.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Insects effecting this plant include aphids, spider mites and mealybugs.  If grown in a container that does not keep the plant root bound, the container may tend to hold excess water, which can lead to root rot.  Overwatering can also inhibit the plant ability to flower.

Thinning, brown or wrinkled leaves can mean that the plant is being allowed to dry too much between watering.  

 

  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Variegata'
    Green foliage with creamy white or yellow edges.
'Variegata'
Tags:
#fragrant#fragrant flowers#houseplant#succulent#showy leaves#epiphytic#bright light#tropical perennials#long-lasting flowers#trellises#ornamentals#indoor#humidity tolerant#dry soils tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#tropical#container plant#wet soils intolerant#trellis
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Variegata'
    Green foliage with creamy white or yellow edges.
'Variegata'
Tags:
#fragrant#fragrant flowers#houseplant#succulent#showy leaves#epiphytic#bright light#tropical perennials#long-lasting flowers#trellises#ornamentals#indoor#humidity tolerant#dry soils tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#tropical#container plant#wet soils intolerant#trellis
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hoya
    Species:
    kerrii
    Family:
    Apocynaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Grown as an attractive houseplant.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Indo-China to Malesia
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Easy to Grow
    Fragrance
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Houseplant
    Succulent
    Vine
    Habit/Form:
    Cascading
    Climbing
    Creeping
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The small, waxy flowers are pink with red star shaped centers that have a velvety feel.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Thick, heart shaped green leaves with
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Design Feature:
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Dry Soil
    Humidity