Photo credit to Lauren Keller

Hoya Obovata

Apocynaceae Family

Also known as Hoya Obovata

Hoya obovata is a species of plant in the genus of waxflowers ( Hoya ) from the subfamily of the milkweed family (Asclepiadoideae).

This plant is a

succulent

Dry

Soaked

Wait until the plant is showing some wrinkles or the leaves are less elastic than they typically are. Hoya's store water in their leaves and will bounce back if they're drooping.

Shade

Direct

Hoya's are a type of succulent so you would think they'd need a bunch of sun. Actually they'll do just fine a foot or two away from an east or west window.

Starved

Full

As succulent's, Hoya's aren't super hungry. Fertilize a few times during the growing season but never during winter.

The shoots are twining and relatively strong. The oval to heart-shaped, relatively large leaves are very thick and fleshy. They are up to 15 cm long, up to 10 cm wide and glabrous. The tip has two points and the edge is curved. The petiole is up to 1 cm long. The inflorescence is flat, measures 15 cm in diameter and sits on a short stalk. The umbel has 20 to 30 individual flowers. The flower crownmeasures approximately 1.5 cm in diameter and is creamy white, yellowish orange to pink or dark red. The upper surface is papillate. The crown lobes are oval and pointed, the tip is bent back. The secondary crown is dark red, slightly darker in the center. The staminal secondary crown lobes are broadly oval, up to 4 mm long and slightly deepened in the middle. The inner process is pointed, the outer process is rounded. The flowers secrete a lot of nectar, which is clear. They smell very strong, the scent is described as “strong smelling roses” or “smelly like honeysuckle”