Plant Library
Types of Hoya: 11 Best Varieties Identified
Identify Hoya carnosa, kerrii, linearis, pubicalyx, bella, curtisii and more. Care signals plus ASPCA non-toxic, pet-safe status for the whole genus.
Types of Hoya: 11 Best Varieties Identified
Hoya — also called wax plant or porcelain flower — is a genus of trailing and climbing epiphytes in the family Apocynaceae (older sources, including the ASPCA, still use the name Asclepiadaceae). Grown for their thick, often waxy leaves and clusters of star-shaped, frequently fragrant flowers, Hoyas have become some of the most collected houseplants in both the US and UK.
This guide identifies eleven real, widely sold Hoya varieties, with a visual ID signal and a light-plus-water cue for each. Most share the same easy-going needs — bright indirect light and a soak-then-dry watering rhythm — but a few (notably H. linearis and H. retusa) break the rules. The whole genus is reassuringly pet-safe, which we cover in detail below.
Match a hoya to your space: Snap your room in Growli — we'll measure the light level and tell you which hoya variety will hold its look in your conditions.
Related: Hoya care guide · types of pothos · pet-safe houseplants
The 12 most common types of hoya
1. Wax Plant (species type) — Hoya carnosa
The classic Hoya: thick, glossy, oval green leaves on climbing vines, with ball-shaped umbels of fragrant pink-white star flowers, each with a red corona. The parent of most popular cultivars.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; water when the top 2-3cm (1in) of soil is dry, then drain fully.
2. Krimson Queen — Hoya carnosa 'Krimson Queen'
Margin-variegated form (sold as 'Tricolor'): dark green leaf centres with creamy-white to pink outer edges. Memory trick: edges variegated, centre green = Queen. New growth often flushes bright pink.
Care signal: Bright indirect light keeps the variegation strong; water when the top 2-3cm is dry.
3. Krimson Princess — Hoya carnosa 'Krimson Princess'
The inverse of the Queen: green leaf edges with cream, pink and yellow variegation in the centre. Leaves tend to be shorter and thicker. Commonly mislabelled against 'Krimson Queen'.
Care signal: Bright indirect light to hold colour; let the top 2-3cm dry between waterings.
4. Hindu Rope (Compacta) — Hoya carnosa 'Compacta'
A branch-sport mutation of H. carnosa with tightly curled, folded, twisted leaves crowded along rope-like stems. Solid-green and pink/white variegated forms exist; genetically identical to the species.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; water sparingly when nearly dry — the dense foliage is slow to dry out.
5. Sweetheart Hoya — Hoya kerrii
Thick, succulent, heart-shaped leaves; often sold as a single rooted leaf as a Valentine's gift. Variegated forms have creamy edges. Single leaves rarely vine or flower.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; water only when the soil is fully dry — very drought-tolerant.
6. Hoya pubicalyx — Hoya pubicalyx
Long, narrow, glossy dark-green leaves often flecked silver, on fast-growing vines. Star flowers range pink to near-black; the popular form 'Royal Hawaiian Purple' has deep wine-purple blooms.
Care signal: Medium to bright indirect light; let the soil dry between waterings — a forgiving grower.
7. Hoya australis — Hoya australis
Round to broadly oval, glossy green leaves on vigorous climbing vines that can reach several metres. Clusters of strongly fragrant white star flowers with red centres. One of the easiest to grow.
Care signal: Bright indirect light (tolerates some direct sun); water when the top few cm are dry.
8. Hoya bella — Hoya bella
Miniature wax plant: small, slender, pointed green leaves on arching, semi-pendant stems. Pendant clusters of fragrant white flowers with purple-pink centres. Naturally bushy and trailing.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; keep lightly, evenly moist — less drought-tolerant than thick-leaved Hoyas.
9. Hoya linearis — Hoya linearis
Unmistakable: long, soft, fuzzy, needle-thin trailing leaves forming a curtain of green strands. Clusters of fragrant white flowers. Looks more like a hanging fringe than a typical waxy Hoya.
Care signal: Bright indirect light and high humidity; keep evenly moist — unlike most Hoyas, do not let it dry out fully.
10. Hoya curtisii — Hoya curtisii
Tiny, spade- to heart-shaped olive-green leaves dusted with silver speckles, on creeping, tightly spaced stems. Small clusters of pale greenish-pink flowers. A slow, compact spreader.
Care signal: Bright indirect light (an east or north window suits it); let the soil dry between waterings.
11. Hoya obovata — Hoya obovata
Large, thick, round to oval deep-green leaves splashed with silver flecks. Ball-shaped clusters of fragrant pink-and-white flowers with a darker centre. Bold, easy-care foliage.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; water when the top few cm are dry — the succulent leaves store water well.
12. Hoya retusa — Hoya retusa
Thin, flat, grass- or needle-like leaves with a notched tip, growing in sparse cascading clumps. Unlike most Hoyas it produces solitary or just 2-3 white star flowers rather than full umbels.
Care signal: Bright indirect light and good humidity; let it dry briefly between waterings but never bone-dry — leaves are less succulent.
Are hoya toxic to cats and dogs?
All Hoya varieties are considered pet-safe. The ASPCA lists both the Wax Plant (Hoya carnosa) and the Sweetheart Hoya (Hoya kerrii) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and this status is generally applied across the genus. Note the ASPCA files Hoya under the older family name Asclepiadaceae; modern taxonomy places it in Apocynaceae. One practical caveat: Hoyas exude a milky latex sap when stems or leaves are cut, and this is not on the ASPCA's toxic-principles list but can be mildly irritating to the mouth and may cause minor stomach upset, drooling or vomiting if a pet chews a large amount. There are no oxalate or saponin toxins reported. If your pet has nibbled a Hoya and shows persistent symptoms, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
Frequently asked questions
Are Hoya plants toxic to cats and dogs?
No. The ASPCA lists Hoya (Wax Plant, Hoya carnosa, and Sweetheart Hoya, Hoya kerrii) as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses, so the genus is considered pet-safe. The one caveat is that cut stems ooze a milky latex sap, which can mildly irritate the mouth or cause minor stomach upset if a pet chews a large amount. It contains no oxalates or saponins. Contact your vet if symptoms persist.
Which Hoya is easiest for beginners?
Hoya carnosa and Hoya australis are widely regarded as the most forgiving. Both have thick, water-storing leaves, tolerate the occasional missed watering, and adapt to a range of indirect light levels. Hoya pubicalyx is another tough, fast-growing choice. Beginners should be more careful with Hoya linearis and Hoya retusa, which have thinner leaves, want higher humidity, and dislike drying out completely.
What is the difference between Hoya Krimson Queen and Krimson Princess?
It comes down to where the variegation sits. Krimson Queen has dark green leaf centres with creamy-white to pink margins on the edges. Krimson Princess is the reverse: green edges with cream, pink and yellow variegation in the centre, and often shorter, thicker leaves. A simple memory aid is that the Queen wears her colour on the outside (edges), while the Princess keeps it inside (centre).
What is the rarest Hoya?
Rarity shifts with the market, but species such as Hoya linearis, Hoya curtisii and certain reverse-variegated Hindu Rope forms (sold as 'Mauna Loa' or 'Lura Lei') are harder to find and pricier than the everyday Hoya carnosa and Hoya kerrii. Hard-to-source wild species and named collector hybrids command the highest prices. We avoid quoting figures because Hoya pricing changes quickly and varies by region.
Why won't my Hoya flower?
The most common reasons are too little light and immaturity. Hoyas typically need bright indirect light and often a couple of years of growth before they bloom; single-leaf Hoya kerrii cuttings usually never flower. Don't remove the old flower spurs (peduncles) — Hoyas rebloom from the same spur. A slightly snug pot, a drier winter rest, and consistent feeding in the growing season also encourage flowering.
How do I tell common Hoya species apart by leaf shape?
Leaf shape is the quickest ID. Hoya kerrii has thick heart-shaped leaves; Hoya linearis has soft, fuzzy needle-thin trailing leaves; Hoya retusa has flat grass-like leaves with notched tips; Hoya curtisii has tiny silver-speckled leaves on creeping stems; Hoya obovata has large round silver-flecked leaves; and Hoya carnosa has classic glossy oval leaves. Flower colour and cluster size help confirm.
Do all Hoyas have fragrant flowers?
Many do, but not all. Species like Hoya bella, Hoya linearis and Hoya australis are noted for sweetly scented blooms, often strongest in the evening. Others, such as some Hindu Rope (Hoya carnosa 'Compacta') forms, can be only faintly scented or unscented. Fragrance intensity also varies with light, plant maturity and time of day.