Scientific Name
Hoya carnosa 'Compacta Regalis' (informal name)
Synonym(s)
Hoya carnosa 'Regalis', Hoya compacta 'Regalis', Hoya compacta 'Variegata'
Common Name(s)
Variegated Hindu Rope, Variegated Indian Rope
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Marsdenieae
Genus: Hoya
Etymology
The generic name "Hoya" (pronounced "HOY-a") honors Thomas Hoy🡕 (c.1750–1822), an English gardener and botanist who worked for 40 years for the Duke of Northumberland at Syon House in Middlesex, United Kingdom.
The specific epithet "carnosa" (pronounced "kar-NO-suh") means "succulent; thick and fleshy" and refers to the species' slightly succulent leaves.
The term "compacta (pronounced kom-PAK-tuh)", in the cultivar epithet 'Compacta Regalis,' means "compact" and describes the closely packed leaves along the stems. The term "regalis (pronounced re-GAY-liss)," means "regal" or "royal" and likely refers to the striking appearance of the tightly curled, variegated foliage.
Description
Hoya carnosa 'Compacta Regalis', also known as Hoya compacta 'Regalis', is an attractive succulent with slender stems and fleshy, curled, dark green leaves edged in creamy white.
The waxy, lightly scented flowers appear in dense umbels from late spring to late fall. Each umbel can reach a diameter of 2.6 inches (6.5 cm) and contain about 20 star-shaped flowers.
Origin
Hoya carnosa 'Compacta Regalis' is a variegated form of Hoya carnosa 'Compacta'.
How to Grow and Care for Hoya carnosa 'Compacta Regalis'
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 10b to 11b: from 35°F (1.7°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Hoyas don't ask for much beyond well-draining soil and the warm, humid conditions that many tropical flowers crave. They dislike wet feet or heavy soil, as many species grow as epiphytes in nature. Give them at least half a day of sunshine, and bring them indoors when temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C).
When your Hoya finishes blooming, leave the flower stalk, as it may produce new flowers. Removing the stalk forces the plant to make a new one, delaying blooming and wasting energy. These plants are light feeders, and a monthly drink of compost tea or dilute fish emulsion provides all the nutrition these tropicals need. Hoyas like the security of a snug pot, and plants that are a bit root-bound will flower more prolifically than those swimming around in a giant pot.
Propagate Hoyas from top-growth cuttings or leaf cuttings. On average, a cutting or leaf will produce a blooming plant in 2 years or less. The easiest propagation method is layering.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Hoya.
Links
- Back to genus Hoya
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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