Hoya verticillata (Pati form)

Origin of Hoya verticillata (Pati form)

Hoya verticillata (Pati form) comes from Pati in Central Java.

Hoya verticillata occurs from the Indian subcontinent through southern China to western and central Malesia.

Care for Hoya verticillata (Pati form)

Maintain a warm indoor position with little temperature fluctuation and avoid exposing the glossy pointed foliage to cold panes or heating vents. Humidity around 50–60% supports steady growth.

Provide this Hoya with bright indirect light so the glossy pointed leaves remain firm and closely arranged. Once acclimated, the glossy Pati foliage can receive mild early sun without being placed in hot direct light.

Maintain temperatures close to 16–24 °C and protect it from long spells below 10 °C.

Wait until the upper mix has dried and the pot is noticeably lighter. Water from several points across the surface until the whole root ball is evenly wet, then let excess water drain.

When the plant slows in cooler or dimmer conditions, leave a little more drying time between waterings and reduce feeding.

Potting mix. Use a coarse, airy epiphytic mix that drains promptly but retains enough fine material to wet evenly.

Feeding. Feed lightly.

Use a hoop that leaves room for side growth. Attach only the flexible sections, because older stems are more likely to split when repositioned.

Repotting. Move to a slightly larger pot once the roots are crowded.

A healthy node-bearing piece of the vine can be rooted for propagation; keep it warm until new roots form.

When Hoya verticillata (Pati form) needs attention

Pointed leaves open pale

Let each leaf harden before judging its colour and venation. If later growth remains weak, inspect roots and light before increasing fertiliser.

A branch lengthens without side shoots

Secure the leading stem and allow it to establish on the frame. Branching may begin from older nodes after the tip is supported.

Older Pati stems cannot be moved without damage

Leave rigid sections of the lightly branching vine where they have settled. Train the next fine runner early so its glossy pointed, narrow-veined leaves remain clear of the hoop.

Hoya verticillata (Pati form) 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 Hoya verticillata mean, and who first published it?

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. Verticillata means whorled.

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

Martin Vahl first described it as Sperlingia verticillata in 1810 in Skrifter af Naturhistorie-Selskabet, volume 6, page 113. George Don later placed it in Hoya as Hoya verticillata in 1837 in A General History of the Dichlamydeous Plants, volume 4, page 128.