Hoya carnosa ‘Mauna Loa’ ('Lura Lei', 'Exotica')

The Florida origin of Hoya carnosa ‘Mauna Loa’

Barnell L. Cobia selected Hoya carnosa ‘Mauna Loa’ in Winter Garden, Florida, from a bud sport of Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’. The cultivar was established by the early 1970s, and ‘Lura Lei’ is a historical designation associated with it.

Hoya carnosa is native to subtropical mountain forests across southern China, Laos, southern Japan and Taiwan.

Care for broad-leaved epiphytic vines

• Light: Choose a bright position protected from harsh direct sun. The pale leaf centres contain less chlorophyll and can scorch.
• Water: Check the hidden root mix directly. After it has dried through most of the pot and the container has become light, soak the whole root ball and let the excess water drain away.
• Temperature: Active growth is best in stable indoor warmth. It must remain frost-free and be protected from cold, wet conditions.
• Growth and flowers: The heavy twisted vines can trail or wrap around a sturdy support. Because this variegated rope Hoya grows slowly, let the curled vines mature and keep watering steady before and during bud formation.
• Propagation: Cut below a node on a shoot whose new growth shows the characteristic pale centre and green edge. Set the node into a coarse damp propagation mix, keeping every curled leaf above the surface; if water is used, immerse the node while keeping the curled leaves dry.

Problems hidden in the curls of Hoya ‘Mauna Loa’

• Pale centres and green shoots: Cream or yellow centres with green margins are normal. Green, Compacta-like shoots are reversions and can be removed at their origin if they begin dominating the plant. Entirely pale shoots have limited energy and should not be propagated alone.
• Soft or yellowing coils: The curled canopy hides the substrate, so test the root zone directly. Soft, dark roots in a persistently damp pot confirm root damage. Firm, pale roots in a very dry pot point to dehydration. Remove dead roots or soak accordingly, then restore a porous mix and reliable drainage.
• Mealybugs or scale inside coils: Separate the plant. Gently open each curled leaf and check the tight stem joints for cottony wax, sticky residue or fixed scales. Lift out visible insects with a damp swab. Treat inside the folds and around the stem joints. Open them again later to find newly hatched pests. Mites can also hide in the coils and cause fine stippling without obvious cottony wax. Sticky coils may develop a wipeable black layer of sooty mould; it clears only after the honeydew-producing pests are controlled.
• Browning in pale tissue: The central variegation scorches and dehydrates easily. Reduce hot direct sun, avoid prolonged root dryness and keep fertiliser modest. Brown areas cannot turn green again; judge improvement by clean new growth.

Hoya carnosa ‘Mauna Loa’ is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

What does the name Hoya carnosa mean?

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. The Latin epithet carnosa means fleshy and refers to the thick leaves.

Robert Brown established the genus Hoya in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 459.

Carl Linnaeus the Younger first described it as Asclepias carnosa in 1782 in Supplementum Plantarum, page 170. Robert Brown later placed it in Hoya as Hoya carnosa in 1810 in Asclepiadeae, page 16.