Hoya macgillivrayi 'Purple'

🌿 The Hoya macgillivrayi, commonly known as the Giant Hoya or Purple Hoya, is a stunning tropical flowering vine from the Apocynaceae family. Native to the rainforests of northern Queensland, Australia, this species grows as an epiphyte, clinging to tree trunks and branches in humid, filtered light conditions. It's considered an intermediate to advanced plant, requiring attention to watering schedules and humidity levels to thrive indoors. Fun fact: This hoya produces some of the largest flowers in the entire Hoya genus, with blooms reaching up to 10 centimetres across, making it a prized specimen among collectors.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This vigorous climber features long, twining stems that can reach several metres in length when given proper support. The leaves are large, oval to elliptical in shape, with a thick, leathery texture and prominent veining. Mature leaves display deep green colouring with burgundy or purple undertones, especially along the edges and veins, which intensifies with bright light exposure. The foliage has a slightly glossy finish and feels substantial to the touch.
FLOWER DETAILS
The flowers are the main attraction, appearing in rounded clusters of 6 to 12 blooms. Each individual flower is cup-shaped with waxy, deep burgundy to maroon petals and a contrasting cream or pink corona at the centre. The blooms emit a strong, sweet fragrance that's most intense in the evening and can fill an entire room. This hoya typically flowers once or twice a year during the warmer months, though mature plants may bloom more frequently. To encourage flowering, provide bright indirect light, maintain consistent humidity, allow the plant to become slightly pot-bound, and avoid moving it once buds have formed. The flowers can last up to two weeks and produce nectar droplets that add to their appeal.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light for 6 to 8 hours daily. Can tolerate some morning sun but protect from harsh afternoon rays
💧 Water: Water thoroughly when the top third of soil is dry, roughly every 7 to 10 days in summer and every 14 to 21 days in winter. Bottom watering works well to encourage deep root growth
🌡️ Humidity: Prefers 60 to 80 percent humidity. Benefits from regular misting or a humidifier, especially during winter heating season
🪴 Soil: Well-draining, chunky mix with orchid bark, perlite, and peat moss. Avoid heavy, water-retentive soils
🏺 Potting: Use terracotta or ceramic pots with drainage holes, sized just large enough for the root ball. Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring, only when roots are visibly crowded
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate to fast. Expect 30 to 60 centimetres of growth in 6 months under ideal conditions, up to 1.5 metres in a year. Can eventually reach 3 to 5 metres in length
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Apply diluted balanced liquid fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks during spring and summer. Reduce to monthly in fall and skip winter feeding
🐾 Pet friendly: No. Hoyas contain compounds that can cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested by cats or dogs, including vomiting and drooling
WHERE TO PUT IT
Place your Hoya macgillivrayi in a bright bathroom with a window, a well-lit living room corner with a trellis or moss pole for climbing support, or near an east or west-facing window where it can receive gentle morning or evening sun. It also does well in a bright office space or sunroom. Avoid placing it in low-light hallways, dark corners, or directly in south-facing windows where intense midday sun can scorch the leaves. Keep it away from cold drafts, heating vents, and air conditioning units that can cause stress.