Of course, Hoya carnosa is the most versatile and ubiquitous of all cultivated species of Hoya; and, with a storied history of hundreds of years in cultivation, has produced nothing short of a plethora of special mutations, varieties, and clones. Boasting carnosa’s typical thick, waxy leaves on a stem with pleasantly short internodes, ‘Krimson Princess’ can almost be grown as a bush, rather than a vine; though eventually stems will elongate to a point where vining is inevitable. A circus tent of variegation is dappled across the leaf surface, with kaleidoscopic colors ranging from yellow to deep red, especially when grown in higher light. With all carnosa, growth rate is a steady, quick acceleration that will lead to an unstoppable specimen in relatively quick time as long as it’s maintained properly. Regular houseplant mix is more than adequate, so long as it’s amended with an aerator like perlite, and fertilizer pellets like osmocote. Easy propagation is another guarantee with carnosa varieties, quick roots and rapid growth from any possible area. Flowers will come quite regularly on mature specimens; usually aligning to a yearly schedule that allots for a gallant display of pale-pink, star shaped blossoms that emit an incredible perfume, another pop of color against the already gorgeous foliage that ‘Krimson Princess’ produces.
