Hoya (Wax Plants)

Q: Is Hoya safe for cats and dogs?

Common cultivated Hoyas, including Hoya carnosa , are widely listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. That does not establish safety for every Hoya species, so check the exact plant if your pet chews leaves. Eating any foliage may still cause stomach upset.

Hoya vines carry fleshy, patterned or narrow leaves on hanging and twining stems. Established plants can produce clusters of star-shaped flowers, sometimes with a noticeable fragrance.

Substrate help

Build a lean, fast-draining Hoya mix

Hoya roots benefit from an open, bark-led setup that dries cleanly while still giving roots enough contact and structure.

Shop Hoya Mix Starter Shop Substrate Sets

Hoya verticillata 'Pati' close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya verticillata (Pati form)Sold out

Hoya wayetii leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya wayetiiSold out

Hoya coriacea 'Silver' close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya coriacea ‘Silver’Sold out

Hoya heuschkeliana variegata leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya heuschkeliana (inner-variegated form)Sold out

Hoya sigillatis AH004 leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya sigillatis (AH004)Sold out

Hoya crassipetiolata 'Splash' leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya crassipetiolata ‘Splash’Sold out

Hoya sigillatis 'Silver' (AH001) close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya sigillatis (Silver form, AH001)Sold out

Hoya carnosa ‘Suzie Q’ leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya carnosa ‘Suzie Q’Sold out

Hoya GFM-04 leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya GFM-04Sold out

Hoya pubera (syn. Hoya picta) leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya pictaSold out

Hoya sp. Sabah (EPC 961) leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya flagellata (Silver Form) close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya caudata (Hoya flagellata)Sold out

Hoya sp. Thailand close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya sp. ThailandSold out

Hoya callistophylla 'Vena' (aka sp. Sekadau Borneo) leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya callistophylla 'Vena' (aka sp. Sekadau Borneo)Sold out

Hoya pubicalyx close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya curtisii 'Silver' close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya curtisii ‘Silver’Sold out

Hoya callistophylla sp. Kalimantan leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya callistophylla (Kalimantan form)Sold out

Hoya crassipetiolata (long leaf form) leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya carnosa ‘Krinkle Tricolor’ close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya carnosa ‘Krinkle Tricolor’Sold out

Hoya latifolia 'Pot of Gold' leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya latifolia ‘Pot of Gold’Sold out

Hoya sp. Zambales leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya sp. ZambalesSold out

Hoya verticillata var. verticillata 'Pink Splash' close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya verticillata var. verticillata (Pink Splash form)Sold out

Hoya pubicalyx 'Black Dragon' leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya pubicalyx ‘Black Dragon’Sold out

Hoya 'Puom Siam Ruby' (PMP 176) leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya ‘Puom Siam Ruby’ (PMP 176)Sold out

Hoya ranauensis close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya ranauensisSold out

Hoya 'Michele' (MB1255) close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya ‘Michele’ (MB1255)Sold out

Hoya aff. vitellina leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya sp. aff. vitellinaSold out

Hoya carnosa 'Tricolor Narrow Leaf' leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya carnosa ‘Tricolor Narrow Leaf’Sold out

Hoya amicabilis 'Splash' leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya amicabilis ‘Splash’Sold out

Hoya globulifera leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya sigillatis leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya 'Microdwarf' (NS12-323) leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya erythrina leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya erythrinaSold out

Hoya verticillata 'Red leaf' aka 'Spoon leaf' close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya thomsonii leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya occultata 'Splash' leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya occultata (Splash form)Sold out

Hoya loheri leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya loheriSold out

Hoya lacunosa 'Asami' close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya lacunosa ‘Asami’Sold out

Hoya bonii close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya boniiSold out

Hoya sp. Vietnam (Clone 1) leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya nicholsoniae leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya scortechinii close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya 'Icensis' (aka Patcharawalai, aka AH 023) close-up of leaf on white background.

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Hoya sp. AH Seeds 023 (Patcharawalai / Icensis)Sold out

Hoya parviflora 'Splash' leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya parviflora (Splash form)Sold out

Hoya curtisii leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya curtisiiSold out

Hoya sp. Lai Chau 'Splash' leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya sp. Lai Chau ‘Splash’Sold out

Hoya clemensiorum 'Round Leaf' leaf close-up on white background.

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Hoya clemensiorum ‘Round Leaf’Sold out

Hoya blashernaezii leaf detail on white background.

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Hoya blashernaeziiSold out

Apocynaceae

Hoya (Wax Plants)

Light: Bright filtered daylight encourages healthy leaves and flowering.
Flowering: Short flower stalks can bloom again in later seasons.
Watering: Use an open mix and allow partial drying; needs vary with leaf thickness.
Pet safety: Common cultivated Hoyas are generally listed as non-toxic; check individual species.

Quick Overview

Light: Bright filtered daylight encourages healthy leaves and flowering.
Flowering: Short flower stalks can bloom again in later seasons.
Watering: Use an open mix and allow partial drying; needs vary with leaf thickness.
Pet safety: Common cultivated Hoyas are generally listed as non-toxic; check individual species.

Botanical Profile

Many Hoyas grow on tree trunks and branches in tropical Asian and western Pacific forests. Their stems travel over bark, and roots formed along the vines help them attach to the tree. Rain can reach those roots freely, then drain away.

Hoya flowers appear in rounded clusters of small, wax-like blooms. Their colours and fragrance differ among species.

Details & Care

Hoya plants

Hoya kerrii has distinctive heart-shaped leaves, while Hoya carnosa ‘Tricolor’ combines green, cream and pink. Small-leaved ‘Mathilde’ trails in neat strands, and Hoya linearis forms longer hanging stems with fine foliage. Each has a recognisable look, even before its first flowers appear.

Twining varieties can follow a hoop or trellis, and naturally hanging stems show their leaves well from a raised planter. Many Hoyas grow in bright, filtered light and open mixes that leave air around the roots. Thick-leaved varieties generally tolerate a longer drying period than finer-leaved forms. Our Hoya care guide covers flowering and care for different species.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hoya

How much light does Hoya need indoors?

Many Hoyas flower well in bright filtered daylight. Some established plants also appreciate gentle morning sun. Leaf colour and growth remain more compact with sufficient light, and buds are more likely on mature healthy vines.

How often should I water Hoya?

Most potted Hoyas grow in an airy mix that begins drying between waterings. Thick-leaved species often tolerate more drying; fine-leaved forms may need moisture sooner. Check the mix around the roots and empty any water standing in a cover pot.

Why is my Hoya not flowering?

Flowering depends on the species, maturity and available light. An established vine may need brighter filtered daylight to form buds. Keep old flower stalks, since many Hoyas bloom from them again.

Why is my Hoya dropping flower buds?

Sudden changes in light, temperature or root moisture can cause Hoya buds to fall before opening. Keep the plant in a stable position while buds develop, and water according to the mix. The same flowering stalk can produce new clusters later.

Is Hoya safe for cats and dogs?

Common cultivated Hoyas, including Hoya carnosa, are widely listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. That does not establish safety for every Hoya species, so check the exact plant if your pet chews leaves. Eating any foliage may still cause stomach upset.