Hoya pubicalyx
Hoya pubicalyx Care Guide
Featured photohoya-pubicalyx.jpgHoya pubicalyx is a Filipino hoya widely grown for its silver-splashed leaves and unusually dark flower clusters — deep red, almost black, with a velvet sheen. It is one of the faster-growing hoyas and one of the easier ones to bring to bloom, with mature vines pushing several flushes per year on long peduncles.
Care facts at a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Water when the top 3 cm of mix has dried.
- Humidity
- 40–60 %
- Temperature
- 16–27 °C
- Soil
- Very free-draining mix with bark, perlite, and a small fraction 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 the Philippines.
- Mature size
- Vines to 4 metres or more indoors with support.
Overview
Hoya pubicalyx was described in the 1900s from Filipino material. Many trade cultivars exist — Royal Hawaiian Purple, Pink Silver, Black Dragon — varying in flower colour from pink to deep red-black.
Care Priorities
- Bright filtered light or a few hours of direct sun for reliable flowering.
- Train onto a trellis or hoop; hoyas climb naturally and develop bigger leaves on a support.
- Water sparingly; the succulent leaves store reserves.
- Leave peduncles intact for repeat blooming.
Common Problems
Yellow leaves are overwatering. No flowers points to insufficient light or removed peduncles. Long bare vine sections with small leaves indicate too little light at the growing tip.
Sources & further reading (3)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-28
- botanical-garden — accessed 2026-04-28
- toxicity-database — accessed 2026-04-28
Frequently asked questions
Why is the silver splash uneven on my plant?
Splash variegation is variable from leaf to leaf and from plant to plant. Healthy plants in good light produce more silver.
Which cultivar has the darkest flowers?
Royal Hawaiian Purple and Black Dragon are both bred for the darkest flower colour.
Does it need a moss pole?
Not strictly, but a trellis or hoop supports the long vines and keeps the plant tidy. Hoyas tolerate hanging-pot trailing too.
