Hoya Nomenclature
Decoding Hoya Names
Nomenclature is the system of naming plants according to botanical rules (International Code of Nomenclature). Correct nomenclature helps avoid confusion between similar plants and ensures consistency in identification. For Hoyas this includes:
Genus
The broader plant group name.
Example: Hoya
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Species
The specific plant within a genus.
Example:Â Hoya curtisii
Variety (var.)
Naturally occurring variation within a species.
Example:Â Hoya chlorantha var. chlorantha
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Subspecies (subsp.)
Taxonomic rank below species, used for natural populations.Â
Example:Â Hoya australis subsp. tenuipes
Cultivar (cv. or ‘Name‘)
Short for “cultivated variety”. A plant selected or bred by humans for desirable traits, maintained in cultivation, defined by its use in cultivation.Â
Example: Hoya cv. Rebecca or Hoya ‘Rebecca’
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Hybrid (x)
Cross between two species, defined by its parentage.
Example:Â Hoya darwinii x Hoya elliptica (Hoya cv. Patricia)
Form / Locality Name
Informal labels tied to collection sites, not governed by nomenclature codes.
Example:Â Hoya latifolia Sarawak
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Clone
A unique seedling or accession of a species, often with a code.Â
Example:Â Hoya lacunosa SR-2010-055
Accession Number
A code or identifier given to a specific plant clone, for tracking and reference, often linked to collection data.Â
Example:Â Hoya UT-001
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Note
A hybrid can also be a cultivar – if someone selects it, names it, and keeps it in cultivation.Â
Example: when Hoya darwinii x Hoya elliptica was selected and named, it became Hoya ‘Patricia’.
Not all cultivars are hybrids – some are selected forms of a single species.Â
Example:Â Hoya carnosa ‘Krimson Queen’ is a cultivar, but not a hybrid.