Hoya 'Rebecca'

Scientific Name

Hoya 'Rebecca'

Scientific Classification

Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Marsdenieae
Genus: Hoya

Origin

This plant is a hybrid created by Antone Jones as a result of a cross between Hoya lacunosa 'Langkawi Island' and Hoya obscura.

Description

Hoya 'Rebecca' is a climbing or trailing plant with wiry stems and oval green leaves with pointed ends and lighter veins. It is a fast grower and blooms readily once established. When exposed to intense sunlight, the leaves take on a red hue, but the veins remain a contrasting light green. Flowers have a fuzzy pinkish to pale pink corolla and a yellow corona. They have a sweet fragrance and appear in drooping umbels in spring and summer. The umbels typically have between 15 to 25 flowers.

How to Grow and Care for Hoya 'Rebecca'

Light: H. 'Rebecca' grows well indoors in bright indirect light but will tolerate pretty low light levels, although it becomes weak and leggy, produce fewer leaves, and may not flower without bright light.

Soil: Whatever soil you plant your H. 'Rebecca' in, it should be well-draining, provide excellent aeration, and not hold too much water.

Temperature: As a tropical plant, it thrives in warm, moist, humid climates. Keep it away from drafty windows and doorways during the colder months. H. 'Rebecca' can withstand temperatures as low as 40 °F (4.4 °C). USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 11a to 11b, 40 to 50 °F (4.4 to 10 °C).

Watering: Water regularly in spring and summer. Soak the soil thoroughly until the water drains out of the drainage holes. Then let the soil dry out between watering. H. 'Rebecca' is relatively dormant and needs only moderate watering in fall and winter.

Fertilizing: This plant is not a particularly heavy feeder. However, it appreciates some extra micronutrients and macronutrients. Therefore, feed with half-strength high-potassium fertilizer every two weeks or so during the growing season.

Repotting: As an epiphytic plant, H. 'Rebecca' has quite shallow root systems and does not require a deep container, nor it needs to be repotted frequently. It prefers growing a bit tight in its container. Therefore, repot in spring if it outgrows its container.

Propagation: You can easily get new plants from your existing H. 'Rebecca' by stem cuttings. Leaf cuttings can be more problematic. The best time to take cuttings is spring or summer when the plant is actively growing. The easiest method of propagation is by layering.

Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Hoya.

Toxicity of Hoya 'Rebecca'

H. 'Rebecca' is non-toxic to humans and pets.

Photo Gallery

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