Hoya fitchii
Originating in the Philippines and named in honor of photographer Charles Marsden Fitch, this captivating houseplant offers striking foliage and easy care, thriving in bright indirect light, warm conditions above 60°F, and higher humidity.
Common Names
Wax Plant, Porcelain Flower
Summary
Hoya fitchii, a collectible epiphytic climber from Mindanao in the Philippines, forms compact vines that can climb or trail on supports or hanging baskets and features velvety, veined olive-green leaves with a webbing pattern; it produces fragrant clusters of star-shaped flowers in coral-orange to pink tones, arranged in umbels with a waxy texture.
Care emphasizes bright indirect light and a well-draining substrate, such as orchid bark with perlite or coco chips, with water only after the substrate dries completely; maintain warm temperatures around 18–28°C and 60–80% humidity with good airflow, and consider monthly fertilization during growth; plants are well-suited to indoor display on shelves, trellises, or hanging baskets, and propagation is via stem cuttings.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12-24 inches
Spread
12-24 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 10-12
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-draining, chunky orchid-bark-based mix
Soil Drainage
Well-draining, chunky, epiphytic-friendly soil that stays slightly moist but not waterlogged.
Bloom Color
Pink to coral pink, with orange-pink and copper-toned varieties depending on growing conditions.
Bloom Time
Spring to Summer
Foliage Color
Light green
Fall Foliage Color
Burgundy red to coppery
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Slow growing
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Cuttings (stem cuttings)
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies and birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Kloppenb.
- Publication
- Fraterna 22(4): 16 (2009)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Gentianales
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Genus
- Hoya