Hoya carnosa Krimson Queen
Hoya carnosa Krimson Queen (Krimson Queen Hoya) Care Guide
Featured photohoya-krimson-queen.jpgHoya carnosa Krimson Queen, sold as Krimson Queen Hoya, is a member of *Hoya*, a tropical Asian epiphytic vine genus in Apocynaceae. A widely-grown variegated cultivar of H. carnosa with creamy-white leaf margins and green centres on thick succulent oval leaves. Trailing stems push pink starflower clusters in summer. 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 Queen 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 widely-grown variegated cultivar of H. carnosa with creamy-white leaf margins and green centres on thick succulent oval leaves. Trailing stems push pink starflower clusters in summer. 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
Is this the same as Tricolor Hoya?
'Krimson Queen' is sometimes sold as 'Tricolor' Hoya, but the two trade names overlap. Both refer to variegated H. carnosa cultivars with cream-edged leaves; 'Krimson Queen' is the older registered cultivar name and 'Tricolor' is a marketing label. Care requirements are identical to plain H. carnosa.
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.
