Wax-plant
Encyclopedia
Hoya carnosa, the wax plant, is a species in the family family Apocynaceae
(Dogbane), (formerly considered to be in the Asclepiadaceae
the Milkweed family). It is one of the many species of Hoya
that are native to Eastern Asia
and Australia
. It is a common house plant grown for its attractive waxy foliage, and sweetly scented flowers.
The flowers are typically light pink, but may vary from near-white to dark pink; they star-shaped, and borne in clusters. The surface of the flowers are covered in tiny hairs giving a fuzzy sheen to them. They are heavily scented and may produce excess nectar that drips from the flowers. Hoyas are unusual in flowering from specialized perennial structures referred to as spurs. These appear from the axils of the leaves and stem; flowers may not be produced when the spurs first appear, but in time buds emerge from the tips. Each season the new flowers are produced on these same spurs and so they should not be harmed or removed.
This species has been in cultivation for more than 200 years and has given rise to many cultivars that vary in foliage form or flowers color.
Hoya carnosa has been shown in recent studies at the University of Georgia to be an excellent remover of pollutants in the indoor environment
or by stem cuttings.
The wax plant benefits from an open potting media that allows some air to get to the roots; typical mixes include large-grade drainage material such as perlite, pumice, or ceramic balls. The plants should be fed regularly with a fertilizer suitable for epiphytic plants.
There is a persistent bit of folklore that Hoyas prefer to be "potbound" - kept in a small pot. It is said that this will hasten flowering.
Apocynaceae
The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs...
(Dogbane), (formerly considered to be in the Asclepiadaceae
Asclepiadaceae
According to APG II, the Asclepiadaceae is a former plant family now treated as a subfamily in the Apocynaceae...
the Milkweed family). It is one of the many species of Hoya
Hoya
Hoya is a genus of 200-300 species of tropical plants in the family Apocynaceae , fomerly considered to be in the Asclepiadaceae...
that are native to Eastern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is a common house plant grown for its attractive waxy foliage, and sweetly scented flowers.
The flowers are typically light pink, but may vary from near-white to dark pink; they star-shaped, and borne in clusters. The surface of the flowers are covered in tiny hairs giving a fuzzy sheen to them. They are heavily scented and may produce excess nectar that drips from the flowers. Hoyas are unusual in flowering from specialized perennial structures referred to as spurs. These appear from the axils of the leaves and stem; flowers may not be produced when the spurs first appear, but in time buds emerge from the tips. Each season the new flowers are produced on these same spurs and so they should not be harmed or removed.
This species has been in cultivation for more than 200 years and has given rise to many cultivars that vary in foliage form or flowers color.
Hoya carnosa has been shown in recent studies at the University of Georgia to be an excellent remover of pollutants in the indoor environment
Cultivation
Hoya prefers bright light, but will tolerate much less. The optimal temperature is 60-85°F (16-30°C). It can be propagated by air layeringLayering
Layering is a means of plant propagation in which a portion of an aerial stem grows roots while still attached to the parent plant and then detaches as an independent plant. Layering has evolved as a common means of vegetative propagation of numerous species in natural environments...
or by stem cuttings.
The wax plant benefits from an open potting media that allows some air to get to the roots; typical mixes include large-grade drainage material such as perlite, pumice, or ceramic balls. The plants should be fed regularly with a fertilizer suitable for epiphytic plants.
There is a persistent bit of folklore that Hoyas prefer to be "potbound" - kept in a small pot. It is said that this will hasten flowering.