Hoya Cumingiana

Paluki (Hoya cumingiana), also called Porcelain Flower or Wax Flower, is native to the Philippines, where it grows as an evergreen vine in warm, humid forests and coastal lowlands. There, it climbs among tree trunks and rocky outcrops, anchoring itself with slender adventitious roots that draw moisture from the air. The environment is bright but tempered—sunlight filtered through drifting clouds and broken canopy. Rain arrives frequently, followed by long intervals of stillness.

Its growth is compact compared to many Hoyas. Stems are sturdy and upright before curving outward into twining forms that seek support. The foliage is small, oval, and leathery, with a soft gloss that resists moisture loss. When mature, the plant produces clusters of star-shaped, yellow-green flowers with contrasting centers, their waxy surfaces glistening under the subdued forest light. The blooms carry a mild, sweet fragrance that attracts bees and small insects.

In cultivation, Hoya cumingiana thrives in bright, indirect light and airy soil. It will climb when offered structure or cascade when left to trail freely. Like others in its genus, it is resilient but deliberate—each node a careful extension of its environment.

Graceful and unhurried, Paluki endures by balance—between light and shade, strength and delicacy, earth and air.