Hoya Carnosa
One of the most beloved houseplants of all time — the Hoya Carnosa is a plant you keep for decades, and it rewards every year of patience with clusters of exquisitely fragrant, waxy star-shaped flowers. Its thick, glossy oval leaves trail gracefully on long vines, making it equally stunning as a hanging plant or climbing up a small trellis. Extraordinarily long-lived and genuinely low maintenance, Hoya Carnosa is the plant your grandmother probably had on her windowsill — and for very good reason. Once it blooms, you’ll understand why people fall so deeply in love with this plant.
Discover more trailing and easy-care plants in our houseplant collection or browse our easy-care plants.
🌿 Why Hoya Carnosa is a Forever Plant
- Exquisitely Fragrant Blooms — Clusters of waxy, star-shaped flowers with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance that fills a room.
- Thick, Waxy Foliage — Succulent-like leaves store water, making it extremely drought tolerant.
- Extremely Long-Lived — With proper care, a Hoya Carnosa can thrive and bloom for 20, 30, even 50+ years.
- Pet-Friendly — Non-toxic to cats and dogs. 🐾
- Versatile Display — Beautiful trailing in a hanging basket or climbing a small trellis.
🌱 Plant Profile
- Botanical Name: Hoya carnosa
- Common Names: Wax Plant, Porcelain Flower
- Origin: East Asia, Australia
- Mature Size: Vines trail 4–10 feet
- Foliage: Thick, waxy, oval dark green leaves on trailing vines
☀️ Care at a Glance
- Light: Bright indirect light. More light encourages blooming.
- Water: Allow soil to dry completely between waterings. Very drought tolerant.
- Humidity: Adapts to average household humidity.
- Temperature: 60–85°F. Protect from frost.
- Fertilizer: Feed monthly during spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer; a high-phosphorus fertilizer encourages blooming.
🌿 Pro Tip: Never remove the spent flower stalks (spurs) after blooming — Hoyas rebloom from the same spurs year after year. Cutting them off means waiting much longer for the next bloom cycle.
