Hoya kerrii
Hoya kerrii (Sweetheart Hoya) Care Guide
Featured photohoya-kerrii.jpgHoya kerrii is the sweetheart hoya — thick, succulent, heart-shaped leaves on slow-twining stems. Single rooted leaves are widely sold in pots as Valentine's gifts; these may persist for years without producing a stem because they were rooted without a node. Whole-plant kerrii flowers reliably with the same fragrant umbels as carnosa.
Care facts at a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Water when the mix is dry through; succulent leaves and stems store plenty of water.
- Humidity
- 40–60 %
- Temperature
- 16–27 °C
- Soil
- Very free-draining mix: orchid bark, perlite, and a touch of coir.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic. Milky sap can irritate sensitive skin. (humans) · Non-toxic to cats and dogs per ASPCA Hoya listing. (pets)
- Origin
- Forests of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and southern China.
- Mature size
- Vines to 2 to 3 metres on a tall support; single leaves stay 5 to 8 cm.
Overview
Hoya kerrii was described in the early 1900s from Thai material collected by Arthur Kerr. The single-leaf novelty pots became popular through European florists and represent a leaf rooted without a node — these grow no further unless they happen to have included a fragment of stem.
Care Priorities
- Bright filtered light or a little direct sun.
- Water rarely — the thick leaves store enough moisture for weeks.
- Use small pots; oversized pots stay wet and rot the roots.
- A whole plant on a small trellis flowers reliably; single leaves usually do not.
Common Problems
Yellow leaves are almost always overwatering. Single-leaf cuttings shrivelling slowly is dehydration through old age. Tiny holes in flower buds are usually thrip damage.
Sources & further reading (3)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-28
- botanical-garden — accessed 2026-04-28
- toxicity-database — accessed 2026-04-28
Frequently asked questions
Will my single-leaf sweetheart ever grow?
Almost never. Single leaves are rooted without a node, so they have no growth point. A few include a fragment of stem and slowly produce a new shoot, but most stay as decorative single leaves.
How long do single-leaf hoyas last?
Years. Many last 3 to 5 years on minimal care before slowly shrivelling.
Is the sap really irritating?
Mildly, on sensitive skin. Wash hands after pruning; the milky latex can sting cuts.
