Sweetheart Hoya Plant Care

Sweetheart Hoya (Anthonotha fragrans) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Anthonotha genus. Sweetheart Hoya is native to the rainforest environments of West and Central Africa. Sweetheart Hoya is also known as Valentine Hoya.

Sweetheart Hoya displays a tall, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 8 ft. Sweetheart Hoya produces small clusters of fragrant white or pink flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Sweetheart Hoya every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Sweetheart Hoya thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Anthonotha fragrans tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Sweetheart Hoya prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil mix with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Sweetheart Hoya to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Sweetheart Hoya every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil mix with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Sweetheart Hoya is suited to USDA Zone 10b – 12b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Sweetheart Hoya can spread to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 8 ft (2.4 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Sweetheart Hoya while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Sweetheart Hoya is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 10). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Sweetheart Hoya can be propagated through seeds, root division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to anthonotha macrophylla plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Sweetheart Hoya is susceptible to aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Sweetheart Hoya grows outdoors in USDA Zone 10b – 12b. It survives winters down to planting zone 10b. Sweetheart Hoya is native to the rainforest environments of West and Central Africa. In cooler regions, grow Sweetheart Hoya as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.