The Hoya is a houseplant that’s famous for its waxy leaves and brightly-colored blooms. Besides its unique looks, the Hoya is a favorite of many houseplant beginners because it’s relatively low-maintenance.
Before taking one home, you might be wondering: are Hoyas succulents?
The quick answer is yes, but things aren’t so simple.
See, many Hoya varieties have succulent leaves. Yet, some are only semi-succulent; others have much thinner leaves that don’t store water.
In this article, we’ll discuss everything related to Hoyas’ remarkable leaves in more detail. Let’s get to it!
Why Aren’t All Hoyas Equally Succulent?
This question is probably the first to pop into your mind once you’ve figured out that only some Hoyas are considered full succulents. How is it that only some varieties fall under that category? Aren’t they all the same plant after all?
Well, to answer your question, keep in mind that the Hoya genus includes more than 300 species all around the world. Not all of those species thrive in the same climate, despite them all being labeled as tropical plants.
Some live in areas that are prone to drought, and those have thicker leaves to enable them to store water. Others can be found in more humid habitats, so, naturally, they’ll have semi-succulent leaves.
You see where this is going, right?
Stretching over different parts of Asia and Australia and living in a multitude of different climates, it only makes sense that each Hoya species is slightly different from others.
Let’s not forget that there are countless Hoya cultivars and hybrids out there, which had a significant effect on how succulent the leaves end up being.
Hoya Varieties With Succulent Leaves
It’s a bit hard to come across a fully succulent Hoya as such varieties aren’t as common as semi-succulent ones. Still, it’s not a rarity to find one and take it home.
To expand your succulent collection, why not give the following Hoya varieties a shot?
Hoya coronaria
The first succulent on our list is the Hoya coronaria, which people admire mainly for its foliage. It boasts thick, fleshy leaves that have a distinctive fuzz all over them, and their captivating deep-green color is an instant eye-catcher!
Even its flowers are uniquely shaped as they resemble an ocean starfish. They don’t come with soft petals, but rather solid, hardened petals with pink speckles.
One of the coolest things about this plant is that it tolerates drought, so, naturally, it requires less water. However, it’ll need more work to maintain than other types of Hoya plants.
Hoya pachyclada
This is another Hoya that’s downright succulent, and it shows in how it looks. The short plant has small, thick stems and fat, water-filled leaves.
What’s also captivating about this little guy is its flowers, which grow into delicate white blooms and release a lovely perfume.
Last but not least, the Hoya pachyclada is as beginner-friendly as any other popular succulent. Great news, ha?
Hoya Varieties With Semi-succulent Leaves
Semi-succulent Hoyas are the most common of all, at least as houseplants. If you’re intrigued about these and you think they might take your indoor aesthetics to a whole new level, it’s time to suggest a few favorites!
Hoya kerrii
Also known as the Sweetheart Hoya, this plant is an instant favorite of many plant lovers for its heart-shaped, semi-succulent leaves.
Each fleshy leaf can grow until it’s a couple of inches wide, while the plant itself has the ability to become as tall as 12 feet. Yes, it’s a climbing vine/succulent, making it an interesting choice for your indoor spaces!
Hoya caudata
Want another awe-inspiring Hoya to transform the appearance of your windowsill entirely? Hoya caudata may be the one for you.
This semi-succulent is a must-have for its heavily-textured, slightly thick leaves.
See, the foliage is generally dark-green with light-colored splotches here and there. Those silver veins will surely make your plant stand out, especially when they’re accompanied by their star-shaped, red-centered blooms!
Hoya Varieties With Thin Leaves
Wondering if you can get your hands on a couple of Hoyas with remarkably thin leaves to add to your ever-growing collection?
Here are two great suggestions:
Hoya linearis
You can take a break from the usual thick look of Hoya leaves by switching to the Hoya linearis. As the name suggests, this beauty’s foliage is long and thin, the leaves resembling slightly thick needles.
Better still, those leaves are fuzzy, which is one characteristic that many Hoyas have in common.
Just keep in mind that this Hoya species isn’t as easily found as its siblings, so you might need to do some extensive search to get it. Plus, due to its rarity, you can expect its price to be higher than other varieties.
Hoya multiflora
This is another Hoya that’s a bit hard to come by, but chances are you’ll be able to find it online if you do some digging. The Hoya multiflora broadcasts long, thin leaves that are magnificently dark green.
As for the blooms, it produces small, white-colored flowers in clusters. Those flowers have a distinctive shape; their petals are narrow and pulled backward, looking a lot like shooting stars.
Because of this Hoya’s remarkably thin leaves, it’ll need more frequent watering than other Hoyas. Still, it should be able to handle moderate humidity levels just fine.
Are Hoyas Epiphytes?
Yes, most Hoyas are epiphytic. In other words, they have shallow roots and are able to grow on the surface of other plants, especially trees.
Their opportunistic nature allows them to absorb water from other well-draining mediums, and you can use this knowledge to improve the growing conditions of your Hoya.
Consider planting your Hoya in a mixture of equal parts:
- Perlite
- Cactus soil
- Vermiculite
- Coconut chunks
- Only some activated charcoal
Are Hoyas Aroids?
Yes, Hoyas are also considered Aroids.
See, Aroids refer to plants that belong to the Arum family, which has the scientific name Araceae. Since this is the family that Hoyas fall under, they’re often labeled as Aroids.
Is Hoya an Orchid?
No. Hoya isn’t a type of orchid as it doesn’t belong to the Orchidaceae family.
Still, a lot of experienced plant parents suggest planting these two flowers next to each other as they make awesome companion plants.
The reason for this is that Hoyas help clear the area around orchids from excess moisture. Plus, both plants thrive in the same climate, so their growing conditions are similar.
Final Thoughts
Are Hoyas succulents?
That’s a question that many first-time succulent or Hoya growers might ask, and it’s quite natural to be wondering about this. Since Hoyas come in countless shapes and sizes, it can be hard to tell whether or not they’re succulents.
After reading our brief guide, now you know that many Hoyas are considered succulents. Some remain only semi-succulent, while others have very thin leaves that water down their succulent status!
With all this information up your sleeve, it should be easy work to determine which Hoya will be the best option to buy and take care of. Sure, they’re all pretty low-maintenance, but some might require more effort than others.
Happy Hoya planting!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.
Shannon R
Wednesday 26th of June 2024
Excellent article on Hoya plants. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the world !