Hoya serpens — Mini Wax Plant, Live Plant
Hoya serpens is a dainty, high-altitude Hoya native to the Himalayan forests of Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan, where it grows as an epiphyte between 1,000 and 2,000 meters elevation. Its small, nearly round, velvety leaves — each barely a half-inch across — grow densely along delicate trailing stems, giving the plant a soft, textural cascade quite different from the larger-leaved Hoya species.
When mature, Hoya serpens produces fuzzy umbels of pale green to creamy white star-shaped flowers, often with a soft pink or white corona at the center — genuinely one of the most delicate blooms in the entire Hoya genus. It's a slower plant to reach flowering maturity than many Hoyas, but the wait is part of its appeal to dedicated collectors.
Its dense, trailing growth habit makes it especially well-suited to a hanging basket or elevated shelf, where its miniature foliage can cascade freely and be appreciated up close.
Care notes:
- Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates a little gentle morning or late-afternoon sun, but avoid prolonged direct exposure, which scorches the delicate leaves
- Water: Allow the top inch of soil to dry before watering; this species prefers not to dry out too aggressively given its high-altitude, consistently humid origin
- Humidity: High humidity preferred (60%+); acclimate gradually if your home runs drier
- Soil: Well-draining, chunky epiphyte mix — orchid bark, perlite, and coco husk
- Temperature: Prefers cooler nights than many tropical Hoyas; avoid letting it drop below 50°F
Size: Shipped in a 4" container.
Shipping: Orders ship out UPS every Monday.