Hoya davidcummingii - salted caramel scent

Hoya davidcummingii is a compact and floriferous species, valued for its delicate foliage, pendent or climbing growth habit, and intensely colored flowers. The narrow leaves highlight the slender stems, while the pink-purple umbels, with yellow centers, create a striking contrast. The fragrance is often described as having caramel or butterscotch notes. It is also known by the common names Wax Flower and Tears of the Virgin Mary.

Foliage and growth

The slender stems form aerial roots at the nodes and can be left to trail or trained onto a support. The leaves are opposite, thick, and smooth, dark green on the upper surface and lighter underneath. Their shape varies from elliptic to lanceolate; the leaves are generally approximately 4–7 cm long and 1.5–2.5 cm wide, and may become longer under favorable conditions. Growth remains relatively compact for a Hoya, making the species suitable for smaller spaces as well.

Flowers and fragrance. The inflorescences form umbels with approximately 10–20 waxy flowers. The corolla is intense pink, pink-purple, or cranberry red and may have fine, silvery hairs, while the yellow corona creates a strong contrast. The flowers are around 1.3 cm across, with some horticultural descriptions indicating up to approximately 2 cm, and usually last for several days, often up to approximately 5 days. Under good conditions, the plant may bloom repeatedly at different times of the year.

The fragrance is sweet and has been described by several growers as having caramel or butterscotch notes. The phrase “salted caramel” is a commercial, sensory description intended as a general indication: the fragrance’s intensity and nuances may vary depending on the observer, time of day, flower age, and growing conditions.

Origin and botanical name. The accepted botanical name is Hoya davidcummingii Kloppenb., published in 1995. The species is native to the Philippines, more precisely the southern part of Luzon, where it grows in a humid tropical climate as a climbing epiphyte or lithophyte. The species name honors the collector David Cumming.

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

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