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 sp. Ternate leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya sp. TernateSold out

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

Pet Friendly

Hoya verticillata (N-Splash form)Sold out

Hoya finlaysonii 'Round Leaf' leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya finlaysonii ‘Round Leaf’Sold out

Hoya soligamiana leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya soligamianaSold out

Hoya archboldiana close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya archboldianaSold out

Hoya carnosa 'Speckles' close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya carnosa ‘Speckles’Sold out

Hoya sp. Sumatra leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya sp. SumatraSold out

Hoya quinquenervia leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya quinquenerviaSold out

Hoya mitrata leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya mitrataSold out

Hoya imperialis 'Red' leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya imperialis 'Red'Sold out

Hoya memoria leaf close-up on a white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya memoriaSold out

Hoya CNS 005 leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya CNS 005Sold out

Hoya ‘Lai Chau’ close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya sp. Lai ChauSold out

Hoya heuschkeliana albomarginata leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya heuschkeliana (marginally variegated form)Sold out

Hoya tsangii inner variegated close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya sp. (Inner-variegated form; formerly sold as Hoya tsangii)Sold out

Hoya pachyclada 'New Moon' leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya subquintuplinervis ‘New Moon’Sold out

Hoya lacunosa 'Amarillo' leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya lacunosa ‘Amarillo’Sold out

Hoya buntokensis leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya buntokensisSold out

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

Pet Friendly

Hoya latifolia ‘Albomarginata Round Leaf’Sold out

Hoya vangviengiensis leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya vangviengiensisSold out

Hoya polyneura leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya polyneuraSold out

Hoya burtoniae leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya burtoniaeSold out

Hoya tsangii outer variegated leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya sp. (Outer-variegated form; formerly sold as Hoya tsangii)Sold out

Hoya rosita 'Red Maroon' leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya ‘Rosita’ (Red Maroon form)Sold out

Hoya maingayi close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya maingayiSold out

Hoya carnosa 'Krimson Queen Splash' close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya carnosa 'Krimson Queen Splash'Sold out

Hoya kerrii 'Splash' leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya kerrii ‘Splash’Sold out

Hoya obovata leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya obovataSold out

Hoya globulosa (villosa) 'Long Leaf' close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya globulosa ‘Long Leaf’Sold out

Hoya callistophylla KAL 16 close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya callistophylla KAL 16Sold out

Hoya sp. Aceh 'Long leaf' leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya sp. Aceh (Long Leaf form)Sold out

Hoya verticillata 'Nanjuk Splash' leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya verticillata (Nganjuk Splash form)Sold out

Hoya sp. Gomas leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya sp. GomasSold out

Hoya nummularioides leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya nummularioidesSold out

Hoya pandurata leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya pandurataSold out

Hoya motoskei close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya motoskeiSold out

Hoya minahassae leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya minahassaeSold out

Hoya 'Rebecca' leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya ‘Rebecca’Sold out

Hoya caudata 'Gold' leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya caudata ‘Gold’Sold out

Hoya versteegii leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya versteegiiSold out

Hoya 'Rosita' leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya 'Rosita'Sold out

Hoya vitellinoides close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya vitellinoidesSold out

Hoya sp. Kho Resus Sunda Hang close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya sp. Kho Resus Sunda HangSold out

Hoya flavida close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya flavidaSold out

Hoya fischeriana close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya fischerianaSold out

Hoya caudata 'Sumatra' aka 'Silver Stains' leaf detail on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya caudata ‘Sumatra’Sold out

Hoya australis close-up of leaf on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya australisSold out

Hoya 'Krinkle 8' leaf close-up on white background.

Pet Friendly

Hoya carnosa ‘Krinkle 8’Sold 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.