Despite having been obsessed with houseplants since I was a wee lad, I’ve never gotten into Hoyas. They seem to inspire a fervid passion in certain plant collectors and enthusiasts, but they’ve largely avoided my interest. I’ve never been a huge fan of the trailing houseplant – the trellises they enjoy too often read as clutter in my annoying Virgo’s mind. Lately, however, I’ve been charmed by the Hoya’s winning attributes – their flowers and pretty leaves, the way some of their nectar is sweet, how some of their perfume is intoxicating. The wide variety of cultivars and forms are also infinitely interesting. Coming into a new interest and passion well past the halfway mark of life is a reminder of how much excitement there is yet to be had in new discoveries.
A few weeks ago I procured my very first Hoya – the Hoya pubicalyx. It’s a very little plant at the moment, the better to acclimate and raise it from the very beginning. In certain houseplant folklore, the Hoya is considered to be a symbol of everlasting affection, love, and protection of home. All good things in this treacherous world.
