Hoya carnosa compacta ‘Mauna Loa’, also known as the Hindu Rope Hoya ‘Mauna Loa’, is a rare and highly collectable variegated form of the classic compacta. Native to India and Southeast Asia, this cultivar belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is prized for its dramatic twisted foliage and striking colouration.

Unlike the standard green compacta, the ‘Mauna Loa’ variety produces thick, tightly curled leaves with creamy-white, yellow, or pale pink variegation, often swirling through the deep green foliage. New growth may be flushed with soft pink, adding even more ornamental appeal. Its rope-like vines cascade beautifully, making it an ideal plant for hanging baskets or high shelves.

When mature, it produces clusters (umbels) of star-shaped flowers, typically pale pink with a darker centre. These waxy blooms are sweetly fragrant and long-lasting, often forming at the ends of its thick, trailing stems.

Hoya carnosa compacta ‘Mauna Loa’ – Care Guide

Light

Requires bright, indirect light to maintain its variegation. A few hours of gentle morning or evening sun is beneficial. Too little light may cause leaves to revert to green. Avoid strong midday sunlight which may scorch pale sections.

Watering

Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil feels dry. As a succulent-leaved Hoya, it stores water in its curled leaves, so it is more tolerant of drought than overwatering. Reduce watering in winter.

Temperature and Humidity

• Temperature: Thrives in 18–28°C. Protect from draughts and avoid exposure below 15°C.

• Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity (50–70%). Adapts to average household levels but benefits from added humidity.

Soil and Potting

Use a chunky, airy, free-draining epiphytic mix – orchid bark, perlite, coco husk, and a little compost. Hoyas flower best when slightly root-bound, so repot only every 2–3 years.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a high-potassium fertiliser to encourage flowering. Do not feed in winter.

Pruning and Maintenance

Prune long vines lightly to control shape and encourage branching. Do not remove peduncles (flower spurs), as Hoyas bloom repeatedly from these.

Growth and Maturity

A slow grower due to its thick, compact leaves. Vines can eventually reach 1–2 metres, cascading in thick ropes. Flowers reliably once mature if grown in bright conditions.

Common Issues

• Loss of variegation: Too little light.

• Shrivelled leaves: Prolonged underwatering.

• Yellowing leaves: Overwatering.

• Pests: Can attract mealybugs, spider mites, or aphids in dry homes.

Background and Benefits

The compacta Hoyas are among the most unusual in the genus, with their twisted, rope-like foliage. ‘Mauna Loa’ is one of the rarest variegated cultivars, admired for its creamy-gold swirls of colour and slow, ornamental growth. It makes a dramatic statement piece for collectors of rare Hoyas.

✅ Quick Care Summary

• Light: Bright, indirect; tolerates soft sun

• Water: Allow topsoil to dry slightly; avoid overwatering

• Temperature: 18–28°C; avoid below 15°C

• Humidity: Moderate to high (50–70%)

• Soil: Chunky, airy, free-draining epiphytic mix

• Feed: Monthly in spring/summer; high-potassium for blooms

• Growth: Trailing vine, 1–2 m; twisted green leaves marbled with creamy variegation; pink fragrant flowers