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Products > Hoya carnosa
 
Hoya carnosa - Wax Plant

Note: This plant is no longer in stock. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.  

 
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Vine
Family: Apocynaceae (Dogbanes & Milkweeds)
Origin: India (Asia)
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: Pinkish White
Bloomtime: Spring/Summer
Synonyms: [Asclepias carnosa]
Height: Climbing (Vine)
Width: 8-12 feet
Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade
Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F
Hoya carnosa (Wax Plant) - An evergreen clambering vine to 12-15 ft with thick dark-green pointed 2 to 4 inch long ovate leaves. The fragrant light pink flowers have a darker star-shaped center and are held in rounded dense clusters in late spring to early summer - though sweet, some feel the fragrance too strong. So keep the plant at a distance, the aroma can be enjoyed but walked away from. Plant in cool coastal full sun to part sun or bright light shade. Give regular water but dislikes overly wet conditions. Hardy to 23°F, maybe a little less with some overhead protection and recovers well if top growth damaged by cold. Watch for mealy bugs (especially if grown indoors) and golden aphids outdoors. This plant from India, Myanmar and south China is also known as the Porcelain plant because the intricate flowers appear to be made of porcelain or Honey Plant because the flowers drip nectar. The specific epithet comes from the Latin word 'carnis' meaning "fleshy" or "succulent" in reference to the thick leaves of this species. 

Information displayed on this page about Hoya carnosa is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.

 
San Marcos Growers closed for regular business at the end of 2025 as the property is being developed for affordable housing.
While our gates remain closed, we will open them by appointment so we can liquidate remaining plants, supplies and equipment. The plants remaining in the field are listed on our Live Inventory Page.
 
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