Hoya carnosa Krimson Princess
Hoya carnosa Krimson Princess (Krimson Princess Hoya) Care Guide
Featured photohoya-krimson-princess.jpgHoya carnosa Krimson Princess, sold as Krimson Princess Hoya, is a member of *Hoya*, a tropical Asian epiphytic vine genus in Apocynaceae. A variegated cultivar of H. carnosa with the variegation reversed from Krimson Queen — creamy-white leaf centres surrounded by green margins, on thick oval succulent leaves. Slower-growing than the green species. Like most Hoya it grows slowly and blooms on short woody peduncles that produce successive flushes of waxy star-shaped flowers.
Care facts at a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Water when the top 3 cm of mix has dried.
- Humidity
- 50–70 %
- Temperature
- 18–27 °C
- Soil
- Free-draining epiphytic mix of orchid bark, perlite, and a small fraction of coco coir.
- Origin
- Tropical and subtropical Asia and the Pacific, mostly epiphytic in forest canopies.
- Mature size
- Trailing or twining stems to 2 m or more on mature plants.
Overview
Hoya carnosa Krimson Princess sits in Hoya, a hyperdiverse tropical Asian genus where new species are still being described almost every year from Borneo, the Philippines, and New Guinea. A variegated cultivar of H. carnosa with the variegation reversed from Krimson Queen — creamy-white leaf centres surrounded by green margins, on thick oval succulent leaves. Slower-growing than the green species. Hoya flowers form on persistent woody flower stalks (spurs) that bloom repeatedly across years — never cut a spur off after flowering, because the same spur produces every subsequent flush of blooms.
Care Priorities
- Bright filtered light keeps stems compact and supports flowering.
- Free-draining epiphytic mix with orchid bark.
- Water when the top 3 cm of mix is dry; reduce in winter.
- Never cut off the woody flower spurs — they bloom repeatedly across years.
Common Problems
Failure to flower is most often insufficient bright light or repotting too frequently — Hoya bloom best when slightly root-bound. Yellow leaves are usually overwatering. Mealybugs cluster in leaf axils and on flower spurs.
Sources & further reading (2)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-29
- botanical-garden — accessed 2026-04-29
Frequently asked questions
How does this differ from 'Krimson Queen'?
'Krimson Princess' carries inner cream variegation surrounded by green leaf margins, the inverse pattern from 'Krimson Queen' which has cream margins around green centres. Both are H. carnosa cultivars; Princess grows somewhat more slowly because the cream interior carries less chlorophyll.
Why does my Hoya never bloom?
Hoya needs sustained bright filtered light, slightly root-bound conditions, and patience to flower — many plants take three to five years before producing their first bloom. Once flowering, the woody peduncle (flower spur) blooms repeatedly across years; cutting the spur off resets the cycle.
Should I repot my Hoya frequently?
No — Hoya prefer to stay slightly root-bound and resent root disturbance. Repot only every 3 to 5 years, sizing up just one pot diameter at a time. Frequent repotting checks growth and delays flowering.
