Hoya onychoides – spectacular hoya with large star-shaped flowers and textured foliage

Hoya onychoides is a species native to New Guinea, published in 1995, with elongated, dark green, glossy leaves and a leathery texture. It has a vigorous vining habit. The flowers are large and star-shaped, with claw-like curved lobes, in burgundy or dark red shades, with a lighter inner surface. They are fragrant, with a gardenia-like note. In horticulture, it is closely related to Hoya macgillivrayi and Hoya archboldiana, but remains a distinct species.

Foliage and growth. The leaves are opposite, elongated, dark green, glossy, slightly rigid, and have a prominent central vein. In cultivation, their length is usually reported as around 12–22 cm. They have no splash and no variegation. The shoots are flexible, with a vining habit; in the lot photographs, the plant is trained on a support. Shoot length varies from one specimen to another. The decorative pot is not included in the price.

Flowers and fragrance. The umbels usually bear 8–10 star-shaped, waxy flowers with reflexed lobes, hence the name onychoides (resembling a claw). In this lot, the corolla is burgundy, with a paler inner surface and a red corona. In cultivation, the color may range from pink to bright red or maroon, sometimes partially cream, depending on the line and growing conditions. The diameter is reported as around 4–7 cm. The fragrance is described as gardenia-like; the flowers may last for around 10 days. Blooming depends on the plant’s maturity and growing conditions.

Identity. The accepted name is Hoya onychoides P.I.Forst., Liddle & I.M.Liddle, Austrobaileya 4: 402 (1995). The species is native to New Guinea, where it grows as an epiphyte in a humid tropical biome. It is not a synonym of Hoya macgillivrayi or Hoya archboldiana; the similarity is horticultural. The title retains the species name.

Substrate: use an airy, well-drained mix suitable for epiphytic species. We recommend the professional substrate for Hoya and Anthurium – SG Mix.

For complete recommendations on light, watering, substrate, fertilization, propagation, and flowering, read the complete Hoya care guide.