🌿 Hoya 'Rosita' — The Romantic Hybrid for Collectors

Robert Pignatello created Hoya 'Rosita' in the 2000s by crossing Hoya wayetii with Hoya tsangii — two Philippine species. The name evokes the rose-red color of velvety flowers and burgundy highlights of young leaves.

'Rosita' combines beauty and accessibility. Narrow leaves with red highlights under strong light offer a visual spectacle, completed by umbels of fragrant velvety pink flowers.

🌍 Origin and Botanical History

The Hoya genus (Apocynaceae) includes 400+ species. The hybrid's parents are native to Philippine islands: H. wayetii (1976, described by Kloppenburg) and H. tsangii (1995). Hybridization was done in the US and registered with the International Hoya Association.

🌱 The Foliage

Narrow, lance-elongated leaves, 5-7 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide. Dark green with tendency toward red-burgundy highlights under strong light ("sun-stress coloration"). Strongly waxy texture.

🌸 The Flowers

Spherical umbels of 15-30 flowers, 7-10 mm each, velvety pink with intense red-burgundy inner corona. Sweet fragrance, notes of caramel and chocolate, intensifying in evening. Blooms spring-summer on perennial peduncles — DO NOT cut them.

🌱 Growth and Care

Moderate-fast growth (30-50 cm/year). At maturity 1-1.5 m. Propagation via cuttings 8-15 cm — roots in 3-5 weeks.

• Light: Bright indirect, 15,000-25,000 lux. 2-3h direct sun intensifies highlights.
• Temperature: 18-28°C, 15-17°C autumn for flowering.
• Watering: 7-10 days summer, 14-21 winter.
• Humidity: 50-70%. Tolerates even 40%.
• Substrate: 40% pine bark, 30% perlite, 20% sphagnum, 10% charcoal.

On Eufloria, part of rare and hybrid Hoya. Use our Hoya mix. Non-toxic — cat-safe.