Climbing Plants

Wax Plant

Hoya carnosa

Also known as: Hoya

Hoya carnosa is an evergreen climber with glossy, thick leaves and fragrant white porcelain-like flowers. Commonly grown in pots or hanging baskets.

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Attributes

Type

Climber, evergreen

Spread

1.0 – 1.5 m

Soil

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Min. temperature

10 °C

Data: Royal Horticultural Society, Missouri Botanical Garden

Fragrant Evergreen Low maintenance

Care guide

Sun

Partial shade to bright indirect light

Water

Moderate

Height

1–3 m

Hardiness

Medium

Flowering

Spring–Summer

Foliage

Evergreen

In Cyprus

The wax plant (Hoya carnosa) is a tropical, evergreen climber that cannot take frost. In Cyprus it is mostly grown in a pot, on a covered veranda, in an atrium or in a bright room indoors. Leaving it outside all year only makes sense in a sheltered, frost-free spot protected from drying winds; each site depends on its microclimate, and neither a corner by a wall nor a pot left outdoors guarantees frost-free conditions. Where winters turn cold, bring the pot inside. It wants bright, filtered light, a free-draining compost and moderate humidity. Move new plants outdoors only once the risk of cold has passed.

Uses in gardens and projects

This is a plant for pots, hanging baskets and small trellises. It needs support to climb; in a pot it can be kept small, while with proper support the stems grow considerably longer. It suits covered terraces, atriums, hotel lobbies and bright interiors. Its waxy flowers, white or pale pink with a red centre, come in clusters and, as the RHS notes, are scented at night.

Frequently asked questions

Can a wax plant survive cold?: No, it is not frost hardy. For Hoya carnosa the RHS gives H2: it tolerates low temperatures of roughly 1–5 °C but does not survive being frozen. In winter it needs a frost-free spot or to come indoors.
Does a wax plant need direct sun?: It needs bright, filtered light, which is what the RHS recommends when it is grown under cover.
How big does it get?: The RHS describes Hoya carnosa as a vigorous climber to about 5 m; in a pot it can be kept much smaller.
What pests affect it?: The RHS notes it may be attacked by mealybugs but usually has no significant disease problems. Check the leaf joints, especially on plants kept indoors.