Name: Hoya longifolia Wall. ex Wight
Etymology: The genus name Hoya was given by Robert Brown in honor of the English gardener Thomas Hoy (c. 1750–1822). The specific epithet longifolia is composed of the Latin words longus ("long") and folium ("leaf") and refers to the strikingly long, narrow leaves.
Synonyms: Hoya shepherdii Short ex Hook. (1861
First description: Published in 1834 by Robert Wight under the name Hoya longifolia. The description appeared in Contributions to the Botany of India on page 36.
Origin / Distribution: Hoya longifolia originates from the Himalayan region and is distributed from northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan through Myanmar and Thailand to southwest China. The Nicobar Islands are also part of its natural range.
Location / Habitat:
The species grows predominantly as an epiphytic or lithophytic climbing shrub in moist, subtropical forests. It is frequently found at higher altitudes, where it grows on trees or on suitable rocky substrates with high humidity and diffuse light.
Description & Notes:
Hoya longifolia is a perennial, climbing to pendulous hoya with robust stems and strikingly long, narrow, fleshy leaves. The leaves can be linear to narrowly lanceolate or elongated in shape and reach a considerable length. The flowers appear in globose umbels and have whitish to pale pink, star-shaped spread petals. The corolla is finely hairy and forms an attractive contrast to the central floral structure.

In cultivation, the species prefers a bright location with indirect light, warmth, and good humidity. A very airy, coarse substrate with excellent drainage is important, as the fleshy roots react sensitively to prolonged wetness. The substrate may dry out slightly between waterings.