Want to get your feet wet with hoya plants? Hoyas are gorgeous and easy to care for, and there are LOTS of different varieties. Here are 9 hoya varieties for beginners that are sure to help you start your hoya collection!
9 hoya varieties that are perfect for beginners!
Hello everyone! I realized I have quite a few hoya care posts here, so I thought I’d collect them all in one place. I don’t consider myself a hoya fanatic, but I do love a good light plant, and I have a few varieties I love.
If you want to start learning more about hoya plants and want to add some to your collection, here are a few I recommend starting with. And the best part – not only are they gorgeous, they’re pretty light.
What are hoya plants and are they good for beginners?
Before we get started, a quick primer on hoya plants. “Hoya” is a large genus of tropical plants native to Asia and also found in Australia. There are hundreds of Hoya species, and many can be super expensive and super hard to find.
However, there really are many varieties light to find. And they’re also very easy to care for, making them a great choice for beginner plant lovers. If you look at a local nursery or garden center, hoyas may be labeled with things like “wax plant” or “wax vine.” I find they are generally just labeled something like “assorted hoya.” I’m driving myself crazy because I like to learn exactly what I’m getting.
Generally, hoyas climb and vine – but instead of the leafy appearance that many other vines have, hoyas generally have thick, succulent leaves. Hoyas have lovely little star-shaped, porcelain-like flowers. They generally grow quite slowly, but it’s worth the wait.
Here are 9 of my favorite beginner hoya varieties that I own and love.
1. Hoya carnosa jade
You need to get hoya carnosa out of the way first in a list of hoya varieties for beginners. The common ol’hoya carnosa jade has gorgeous thick green leaves and has been a houseplant staple for decades. It does well in medium to bright indirect light and hates being overwatered.
Although carnosa likes moisture, it does really well in normal household temperatures. Runs beautifully, so it looks great hanging from the ceiling or up on a shelf. This is probably the most common variety you will find. See my hoya carnosa care guide for more.
2. Hoya carnosa crimson queen
Hoya carnosa crimson queen is a type of carnosa, but I want to call it and some other types of carnosa specifically because they are gorgeous and I love them. 
I got my hoya carnosa krimson queen from a local nursery. It has been growing very slowly but is wonderful!
About the same requirements as carnosa, but keep in mind that the whiter variety a plant has, the more light it may need. The white parts do not photosynthesize. The white lumps are great, but don’t be shocked when they discolor.
You might also consider a hoya carnosa crimson princess, but I don’t personally have one. However, they are very similar. The main difference is that the princess tends to have a green border around its leaves, while the queen has a creamy white border.
3. Hoya carnosa Chelsea
And another carnosa…hoya carnosa Chelsea! This is my most recently acquired hoya. My friend snagged it for me at Home Depot or Lowe’s, I can’t remember. It already trails beautifully, and I plan to take it outside this year.
The leaves of Chelsea are a little rounder and have a slightly wrinkled appearance. They are also thick and juicy <3 Again, being a carnosa, care is very easy. Do not overwater. Medium to strong indirect light. Humidity is a plus. See my post on hoya carnosa Chelsea care and propagation.
4. Hoya carnosa compacta
The last carnosa I will cover. Honestly, I always separate carnosa compacta because it looks so different from carnosa. Otherwise known as a “rope plant,” the leaves curl and twist on the stem, creating a knotted “rope” look.
These plants grow sooooo slowly, but they are undeniably gorgeous. My hoya carnosa compacta is probably one of my favorite plants. They look pretty, but they also look really interesting when they’re small.See my hoya carnosa compacta care guide for more.
5. Hoya pubicalyx splash
For the longest time I thought the hoya pubicalyx splash was a type of carnosa. They have many similarities, but they is different. The leaves of the pubicalyx are a little longer and, I have found, thinner than those of the carnosa.
But they grow just as beautifully, winding up and down. Double decker vining, gotta love it. I’m just a little salty that my mom and I got ours at the same time and hers has kind of tripled in size.See my hoya pubicalyx care guide for more.
6. Hoya australis
Hoya australis plants have very shiny, slightly rounder leaves that tend to wave up more than they wind down. The stems intertwine to create really cool plant patterns, even without a trellis. Although they certainly appreciate a trellis.
Mine is quite small, and I have it on a feather trellis that I got from my friend Delaney at Plants and Lasers. I often see them sold in hanging baskets, but since they don’t seem to drag down much, I think I prefer them as table plants with a cool trellis.See my hoya australis care guide post for more.
7. Hoya curtisii
Hoya curtisii is a gorgeous trailing hoya with gorgeous silvery speckled splashes. The leaves are shaped like small tears and fall into the pot. It is very easy to propagate and it does beautifully! Learn how to care for a hoya curtisii propagation.
8. Hoya obovata
Hoya obovata grows much like hoya kerrii, except that the leaves are round. They are so cool too! I ordered my plant online because I rarely see them locally, and it’s not quite vining yet. But it’s coming! And it will be a glorious day. It also has a mottled “splash” on the leaves. See my hoya obovata guide post for more.
9. Hoya linearis
And let’s finish with hoya linearis. This hoya is unlike all the other hoyas in this roundup because its leaves are not big, thick and juicy. Instead, they are about an inch long and thin. However, they grow quite close to the trunk, so they create a curtain effect.
I think this plant really shines when full and ripe. Hoya linearis is the only one on this list that I have found to be somewhat on the picky size. The leaves will dry out if the humidity is too low, so I keep mine in a bathroom that has windows. I also hang it so that light shines down on it to avoid the top becoming bald
This plant is growing in popularity right now, so you may see its prices go up while you shop. To give you an idea of what to expect, I found my pot at a local plant store. The first picture below was taken right after I bought it, and it cost $48. I thought it was great.See my Hoya Linearis care guide for more.
