Hoya lacunosa 'Laos' is a locality form of the beloved Cinnamon Hoya, collected from the forests of Northern Laos and selected for its striking silver splash patterning and colourful new growth. If you already know Hoya lacunosa – one of the most fragrant, reliable, beginner-friendly species in the entire genus – then the 'Laos' form takes everything you love and adds a visual dimension that the standard species simply cannot match.

🌿 The Species. Hoya lacunosa Blume was described in 1826 and is native to Thailand through western and central Malesia (Kew, Plants of the World Online), growing as an epiphytic or lithophytic climber in wet tropical forests. The species name means "pitted" or "hollowed" in Latin – a reference to the slightly sunken leaf surface between the veins that gives each leaf its distinctive furrowed texture. It was first cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where it earned the English common name "Furrowed Hoya." The 'Laos' form extends the known range of the species into Laos, where it was found growing as an epiphyte in humid lowland and foothill forests at 100–900 m elevation.

🍃 The Foliage. Small, teardrop-shaped leaves with a glossy, dense arrangement along thin trailing stems. The Foliage Factory provides the best description of what makes this form special: fine silver splash markings scattered generously across the leaf surface, creating a shimmering, almost translucent quality – Hoya Treasures notes the leaves "almost look translucent when they first come in." But the real showstopper is the new growth: fresh leaves emerge flushed in soft pink to violet-purple before gradually maturing to deep glossy green. Canopy Plant Co. confirms: "Emergent leaves tend to be a deep purple color." Scindapsus Borneo describes the variety as featuring "narrow, lance-shaped leaves generously dusted with silver splash markings." Under bright light, the foliage can develop deeper sun-stress colouring – Hoya Treasures reports it "sun-stresses a really nice pink/purple color." One specialist care guide notes that with good light, the foliage turns brown-toned and the silver spots intensify to white. The overall effect is a small plant with a continuously shifting palette: purple new growth, silver-splashed mature leaves, and deep green older foliage.

🌸 The Flowers & Fragrance. This is a Hoya lacunosa, which means the fragrance is the headline. The species produces umbels of 15–25 fuzzy, cream-white star-shaped flowers, each approximately 1 cm across, with a pale yellow corona. The Foliage Factory describes them as "delicate, fuzzy, cream-white blooms with a sweet, cinnamon-like fragrance that fills the air at dusk." The scent – rich cinnamon with notes of vanilla and honey – intensifies dramatically at night, as the species is pollinated by nocturnal insects. Multiple sources confirm the fragrance is strong enough to fill an entire room. Flowers last approximately 4–5 days per cluster, appear from spring through autumn (potentially year-round), and re-bloom from persistent peduncles. One specialist care guide notes the 'Laos' form is distinguished by its particularly long flowering seasons. 🚫 Never remove old flower stalks!

📐 Growth Habit. Compact and trailing. Stems are thin and wiry, reaching approximately 1–1.5 m indoors. The Foliage Factory notes it "trails neatly from pots or climbs small supports without tangling" – a characteristically well-behaved growth pattern. Perfect for hanging baskets 🪴, shelf displays, small trellises, or hoops. Moderately fast once established.

🛠️ Care at a Glance:

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect. Some soft morning sun acceptable. Brighter light = more silver splash + more sun-stress colouring. Will flower even in lower light or under grow lights.
• 💧 Water: Let top half of substrate dry between waterings. Soak-and-dry method. Reduce in winter. Overwatering is the main risk.
• 🪨 Soil: Well-draining epiphytic mix – orchid bark, perlite, coco coir. Adapts well to semi-hydro (LECA). Keep pot snug for better flowering.
• 🌡️ Temperature: 18–27°C ideal. Slightly cooler nights (16–21°C) can encourage blooming. Avoid below 10°C.
• 💨 Humidity: 50–80%. Tolerates average household levels but higher humidity = faster growth. Good air circulation essential.
• 🧪 Feeding: Half-strength balanced fertilizer monthly during growing season. Low-nitrogen, higher phosphorus/potassium formula supports flowering.

📋 Botanical Info: Family: Apocynaceae | Species: Hoya lacunosa Blume (1826) | Form: 'Laos' (locality form from Northern Laos) | Common Names: Cinnamon Hoya, Furrowed Hoya | Type: Epiphytic/Lithophytic Climber | Origin: Northern Laos (species range: Thailand to W. & Central Malesia) | Habitat: Humid lowland & foothill forests, 100–900 m | Flowering: 15–25 fuzzy cream-white stars, ~1 cm, cinnamon fragrance intensifying at night, 4–5 days/cluster, spring–autumn+ | Growth: Compact trailing, ~1–1.5 m