🌿 Hoya imbricata — The Climbing Wonder of the Tropical Jungle

In the Hoya world, Hoya imbricata represents a remarkable exception through its extraordinary growth habit — "shingling" — in which nearly round, flat leaves grow pressed tightly against tree bark, like tiles on a roof.

The species is a myrmecophyte: in nature it harbors ant colonies beneath its leaves, in a perfectly refined symbiosis. Ants receive shelter, the plant gets protected and fertilized.

🌍 Origin and Botanical History

Described in 1844 by Joseph Decaisne. The name "imbricata" means "overlapping like tiles." Distributed in Borneo, Sulawesi, Philippines and Sumatra at elevations of 100-800 m. Grows epiphytically in warm (22-28°C) and humid (>80%) climates.

🌱 The Foliage

Nearly perfectly round leaves, 5-10 cm in diameter and just 1-2 mm thick. Dark green with silver highlights. To retain its shingling habit in cultivation, it MUST have a support — moss pole or bark. Aerial roots attach to the support.

🌸 The Flowers

Small umbels of 8-15 flowers, 6-8 mm each, dark red with white-pink corona. Weak fragrance. Flowering rare in apartments (requires 3-4 years). The true attraction lies in the foliage and unique growth habit.

🌱 Growth and Care

Slow growth — 5-15 cm/year. Propagation via cuttings on moist moss pole at 22-25°C and 80% humidity — roots in 4-8 weeks.

• Light: Bright indirect, 10,000-20,000 lux.
• Temperature: 22-28°C constant.
• Watering: 5-7 days summer, 10-14 winter. Moss pole kept moist.
• Humidity: 70-85% — essential for shingling.
• Substrate: Very airy: 50% pine bark, 25% perlite, 15% sphagnum.

On Eufloria, part of rare Hoya. Use our specialized substrate. Non-toxic — cat-safe.