Hoyas are native to Southern India, but can be found growing wild all over Southeastern Asia and Australia. They are in the Apocynaceae family, making some of their well-known relatives milkweed and dischidia species. Like I mentioned above, there are hundreds of species and many types - some are succulent, some are non-succulent; some are woody or shrubby; some are vining; some are ephyphtic or terrestrial. Hoya carnosa in particular is a climbing type with succulent leaves and woody stems. They produce flowers in near-perfect ball-shaped clusters that are usually light or dark pink, but sometimes white. Before the flowers open, they are tightly closed buds that look almost plastic; some people have likened them to tiny candies or jewels! When the flowers open, they reveal little five-pointed star shapes that are covered in a fine coating of hair. The flowers are known to produce a sticky, sweet nectar that smells more intense at night. H. carnosa flowers smell different to everyone, it seems, but when mine flower, I get notes of honey, chocolate, and butter!
