Hoya kerrii Splash - Hoya heart

The Hoya kerrii 'Splash' also known as the Sweetheart Plant is a tropical houseplant named for its distinctly heart-shaped leaves, making it a popular choice for Valentine's Day or as a romantic gift. Interesting year-round, it produces thick, glossy leaves that grow on long lianas making it ideal for hanging baskets where it cascades beautifully, or as a climbing plant on a support. This cultivar features medium-green leaves splashed with white across the lamina, creating the impression of countless light-green speckles. Its stunning flowering with porcelain-like blooms may take time to appear but is exquisitely beautiful, forming white umbels that resemble fine porcelain.

The Hoya kerrii 'Splash' is derived from Hoya obovata var. kerrii, also known as the Wax Flower or Valentine Hoya. This species originates from Southeast Asia, particularly northern Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, southern Vietnam, Java, and parts of China. In these regions, this epiphytic plant climbs up other vegetation, using it as a support to reach several metres in height. With slow to moderate growth, the Hoya kerrii develops succulent, very thick leaves on lianas that can grow up to 4 metres long. Its spring or summer flowering indoors produces umbels of star-shaped, creamy-white flowers with a red centre featuring a remarkable texture reminiscent of porcelain and tiny red beads. Clustered in groups of 15 to 20 or more, they are borne on long floral peduncles forming bunches 5-6 cm in diameter. The 'Splash' flowers have a pink-purple centre and the leaves are speckled with light green.

The Hoya genus belongs to the Apocynaceae family and comprises around 400 species native to the warm, humid regions of Southeast Asia, Australia, and Polynesia, where they thrive in tropical forests. Primarily epiphytic shrubs or lianas, they often anchor themselves to tree trunks and branches using aerial roots, enabling them to grow towards the light. This unique climbing habit has made them popular as ornamental houseplants, ideal for climbing up supports or cascading down from hanging baskets.

The Hoya kerrii 'Splash' prefers bright, indirect light but also enjoys a few hours of direct sunlight daily, avoiding the strongest midday rays. Use an epiphytic plant substrate such as an orchid mix and allow it to dry completely between waterings. The Hoya kerrii 'Splash' thrives in temperatures between 18°C and 26°C with humidity levels between 40% and 60%. You can choose to train it to climb up a support such as a single stake or small trellis, or alternatively, grow it in a hanging basket, allowing its flexible stems to trail.