Hailing from the ever-biodiverse Philippines, Hoya pubicalyx is quite a ubiquitous species. Like carnosa, a plethora of varieties have been established to delineate flower color, leaf shape, or pattern; though it’s tough work trying to improve on such an already spectacular species. Leaves harden to a glossy finish with a smoothed, sharp lance shape, but only after they emerge in a brilliant, all-consuming purple; a flush of excess anthocyanin pigment meant to shield tender younger growth from the harsh sunlight in the sparse forests where it’s native. Almost as spectacular as the young leaves are the flowers; firework bursts of fluffy purple, coronas a similar, but paler shade. Flowers are without major scent, but incredibly flamboyant in appearance; and they appear in a synchronized blooming event that will cover an entire mature specimen in a dizzying array of blossom. This species is quite tolerable; able to cope with basically any typical houseplant media, though they seem to prefer it on the side of dryness, with excess aeration, like a truly epiphytic species. Though pubicalyx can grow long, elegant, hanging vines; the most aesthetically pleasant way to display a mature Hoya pubicalyx, especially when it goes into bloom, is on a large trellis.
