Hoya flagellata

Hoya flagellata is a Philippine species found in forested areas from lowland to mid-elevation, where it grows as a slender climber with long wiry stems and narrow, leathery leaves adapted to humid, shaded conditions. The plant produces umbels of small star-shaped flowers, usually white to cream with darker centres, which release a light fragrance and offer nectar to pollinating insects. Its delicate, trailing growth habit and elongated foliage make it a distinctive species among Hoyas, well suited to hanging displays or training along supports in cultivation.

Distinctive Features

• Foliage: Small, soft-textured leaves with a matte surface, often light green or greyish when mature.
• Flowers: Pale yellow to ivory blooms with a reflexed corolla and fuzzy surface; typically appear in small umbels.
• Growth Habit: Slender trailing stems that ramble gently, often behaving as a fine epiphyte in cultivation.

Care Tips

• Light: Enjoys bright, filtered light; too much direct sun can scorch the delicate foliage.
• Water: Keep lightly moist in the growing season; allow partial drying between waterings. Less water is needed in cooler months.
• Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity; benefits from regular misting or proximity to a humidifier.
• Media: Use a well-draining, airy orchid mix or Hoya substrate with bark, perlite, and a small amount of organic matter.
• Temperature: Thrives between 16–28 °C; avoid exposure to cold drafts or temperatures below 10 °C.
• Fertiliser: Feed monthly during spring and summer with a dilute, balanced fertiliser; reduce feeding in autumn/winter.
• Repotting: Repot every 2–3 years or when root-bound, preferably in early spring.