Hoya pubicalyx 'Pink Silver'

DESCRIPTION
The Hoya pubicalyx 'Pink Silver' 🌿 is a stunning vining tropical plant from the Apocynaceae family, native to the Philippines. This intermediate-level houseplant produces cascading stems adorned with speckled foliage and deep purple star-shaped flowers. In its natural habitat, it grows as an epiphyte, clinging to trees in warm, humid forests. Fun fact: the sweet fragrance of its blooms intensifies at night to attract pollinating moths.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This climbing hoya develops long, flexible vines that can trail gracefully or be trained upward on a trellis. The lance-shaped leaves are thick and waxy, displaying a dark green base with distinctive silvery-pink speckles scattered across the surface. Each leaf feels firm and slightly succulent to the touch, creating an attractive speckled pattern that varies from plant to plant.
FLOWER DETAILS
The clusters of deep purple to burgundy star-shaped flowers emerge from peduncles along the vines, each bloom featuring a contrasting lighter centre. These fragrant flowers release a sweet, honey-like scent that becomes more pronounced in the evening hours. The waxy blooms appear several times throughout the growing season when the plant receives adequate light. To encourage flowering, provide bright indirect light, allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings, and avoid removing the flower spurs after blooms fade, as new flowers will emerge from the same spot.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light for 6-8 hours daily; can tolerate some morning sun but avoid harsh afternoon rays
💧 Water: Allow top half of soil to dry between waterings; reduce frequency in winter. Water thoroughly when needed, ensuring excess drains completely
🌡️ Humidity: Thrives in 40-60% humidity; tolerates average home conditions but benefits from occasional misting
🪴 Soil: Well-draining chunky mix with perlite, orchid bark, and peat or coco coir
🏺 Potting: Use a pot with drainage holes, slightly snug fit preferred; terracotta or plastic work well. Repot every 2-3 years in spring
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate grower, producing 30-60 cm of new growth per year; mature vines can reach 2-3 metres in length
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed monthly during spring and summer with diluted balanced liquid fertilizer; reduce or stop in fall and winter
🐾 Pet friendly: No. Contains toxic compounds that can cause vomiting, drooling, and gastrointestinal upset if ingested by cats or dogs
WHERE TO PUT IT
Position your Hoya pubicalyx 'Pink Silver' near an east or west-facing window where it receives filtered morning or late afternoon light. It looks beautiful displayed on a high shelf, in a hanging basket, or trained up a small trellis in a living room, bedroom, or bright bathroom. Keep it away from dark corners, cold drafts from windows or air conditioning vents, and areas with direct midday sun that can scorch the foliage.