Hoya carnosa 'Mauna Loa' Plants GrowTropicals
Hoya carnosa 'Mauna Loa' — 8cm
Hindu rope

Hoya carnosa 'Mauna Loa'

£19.99 £49.99 SAVE 60%
Hard to killPet-safe
Pot size

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

Complete the set up
Hoya Premium Potting Mix
The perfect soil Hoya Premium Potting Mix · 2.5L · £5.99
Description

Hoya carnosa 'Mauna Loa' is the variegated Hindu rope: thick leaves folded and twisted so tightly, and packed so closely along the stem, that a mature length looks more like a plaited rope than a vine. The cream to soft yellow sits in the centre of each leaf with the green pushed out to the margin, the reverse of the edge variegated Hindu rope and different again from 'Krimson Queen', a flat leaved wax plant with creamy edges. How much cream a leaf carries varies, and some come through almost solid green, so every plant reads a little differently.

Origins
Hoya carnosa is a climbing epiphyte that runs from southern China to Laos and from southern Kyushu across to Taiwan, rooting into bark and rock rather than soil. It belongs to the Apocynaceae and is widely known as the wax plant or porcelain flower. The rope form began life as a branch sport on an ordinary carnosa, which is why the plain green one is written Hoya carnosa 'Compacta' and sold under the trade names Hindu rope, rope plant and Krinkle Kurl. 'Mauna Loa' is the centre variegated selection of that rope form, and also travels as 'Lura Lei'.

Care
Bright indirect light, with shelter from hot midday sun. Light is what holds the variegation: a dim corner pushes the cream centres back towards green, while harsh sun scorches the pale tissue. Let the top few centimetres of compost dry out, then water thoroughly and let it drain freely, as the fleshy leaves carry their own reserve and the roots resent standing wet. It appreciates a little extra humidity and a minimum of around 10C, away from cold draughts and chilly winter glass. Expect slow growth, slower still on a variegated rope. In time it carries domed umbels of fragrant, waxy, star shaped flowers in pale pink with red centres, scented most strongly at night. Leave the short woody spur in place once the petals drop, because the same spur flowers again in later seasons and removing it is the usual reason a reliable hoya stops blooming. The wax plant is listed as non toxic to cats and dogs.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

Find out more

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

Best quality plants guaranteed
7 day live arrival guarantee
Delivered to your door with care
Earn 99 points with this plant · 5 points per £1 Join free

How to care for Hindu rope

Give me bright light out of the midday sun and water me when the top of my soil feels dry.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Get to know me

About Hindu rope

Hoya carnosa 'Mauna Loa' is an easy-care houseplant. It needs bright indirect light, watering once the top 2 to 3cm of compost has dried out, a little extra humidity and a minimum temperature of 10°C. It is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Good for

Living Room Kitchen

Care level

EasyChallenge

Easy care

Light

ShadeFull sun

Bright, indirect light

Bright indirect light, with shelter from hot midday sun. Good light is what keeps the cream centres; a dim spot pushes new leaves back towards plain green and scorching sun burns the pale tissue. Read moreShow less

Bright indirect light, with shelter from hot midday sun. Good light is what keeps the cream centres; a dim spot pushes new leaves back towards plain green and scorching sun burns the pale tissue.

Watering

Evenly moistDries out fully

Let the top few centimetres dry out

Let the top few centimetres of compost dry out, then water thoroughly and let it drain. The fleshy leaves hold their own reserve, so err on the dry side and water less in winter, without letting the compost bake bone dry for weeks. Read moreShow less

Let the top few centimetres of compost dry out, then water thoroughly and let it drain. The fleshy leaves hold their own reserve, so err on the dry side and water less in winter, without letting the compost bake bone dry for weeks.

Humidity

Average homeHigh humidity

Prefers a little extra humidity

Prefers a little extra humidity. A pebble tray or a spot near other plants suits it, though it copes with ordinary room air. Read moreShow less

Prefers a little extra humidity. A pebble tray or a spot near other plants suits it, though it copes with ordinary room air.

Temperature

Keep above 10°C · Happy at normal room temperature

Normal room warmth suits it, with a minimum of around 10C. Keep it off cold windowsills and away from draughts in winter. Read moreShow less

Normal room warmth suits it, with a minimum of around 10C. Keep it off cold windowsills and away from draughts in winter.

Feeding

Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.

Growth habit

Trailing →Climbing →

Plant type

Hoya →

Toxicity

Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Plants still are not food, so a determined chewer may get an upset stomach.

Also known as

Hoya carnosa 'Mauna Loa'

Genus

Hoya →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'Mauna Loa' different from the other Hindu ropes?

All the Hindu ropes share the same tightly folded, curled leaves crowded along rope-like stems. The difference is colour. The plain 'Compacta' is solid green. The marginally variegated Hindu rope carries its cream or pink colour around the leaf edge. 'Mauna Loa' does the opposite, with the pale centre ringed by a green margin. 'Krimson Queen' is a different plant again: a wax plant with flat, uncurled leaves and creamy margins, not a rope form at all.

How do I keep the variegation?

Light is what holds it. Give it the brightest indirect position you can, with shelter from hot midday sun. In a dim corner new leaves come through with less cream and more green, and that reversion does not turn back once a leaf has hardened. Direct scorching sun causes the opposite problem, burning the pale tissue because it has no chlorophyll to protect it. A bright windowsill out of the midday beam is the sweet spot. Expect some natural variation anyway, as the amount of cream differs from leaf to leaf.

Why should I not cut off the old flower stalks?

Hoya flowers appear on a short woody spur, and that spur is perennial. The same one produces cluster after cluster in later seasons, so once the petals drop you leave it exactly where it is. Cutting the spurs off is the single most common reason a hoya that used to flower reliably stops doing it, because you have removed the very points that would have flowered. Let the spent flowers fall on their own and tidy them off the shelf instead of the plant.

How often should I water it?

Let the top few centimetres of compost dry out, then water thoroughly and let the excess drain away. The fleshy leaves carry their own reserve, so it copes with being forgotten far better than with being kept damp, and soggy compost is what rots the roots. Water less over winter when growth slows, but do not leave it bone dry for weeks on end.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. The ASPCA lists the wax plant, Hoya carnosa 'Krinkle Kurl', as non-toxic to both dogs and cats, and NC State Extension lists Hoya carnosa as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. As with any houseplant, a pet that eats a mouthful of leaf may still get an upset stomach, and cut stems leak a milky sap, so wash your hands after pruning.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Hoya

Hoya plants, also known as wax plants, are beautiful, low-maintenance houseplants that thrive when their natural growing conditions are mimicked. Found draped under trees in their natural habitat, Hoyas use other plants as support to climb or trail. By prov...

More about Hoya care
Hoya Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

Verified reviews

Rated by real customers

Customers praised the plant's health and sculptural form, with one noting it's "healthy" and another describing it as "in lovely condition." However, multiple shoppers reported the plant was "way smaller than shown on the picture," expressing disappointment with sizing versus expectations for the price. Overall healthy specimens delivered.

  • It's healthy and I'm looking forward to when it starts trailing. It's sculptural in form.
  • A good sized plant in lovely condition.
  • Healthy plant; being on my wishlist for so long.
  • 5 stars: 2 (40%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 3 (60%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
K
Katherine J.
Hoya Carnosa compacta 'Mauna Loa'

It's still at its compact stage ,it's healthy and I'm looking forward to when it starts trailing.
It's sculptural in form and I enjoy using a small soft brush to keep it clean.

Katherine Jackson

K
Kat

It is ok, plant is allive, and heslthy, but it is way smaller than shown on the picture, i would not order for this price if i knew it was that small. All other plants i ordered match the description and the pictures.

K
Kat

It is ok, plant is allive, and heslthy, but it is way smaller than shown on the picture, i would not order for this price if i knew it was that small. All other plants i ordered match the description and the pictures.

B
Barbara M.
Healthy plant; being on my

Healthy plant; being on my wishlist for so long. Plant was smaller than advertised pictures though

Hi Barbara,

I'm really sorry to hear that the Hoya Carnosa Compacta mauna loa arrived
with you smaller than the pictues on our website.

If you would like to send us a photo of this, we would be more than happy
to offer a resolution here.

C
Colin D.
A good sized plant in

A good sized plant in lovely condition.

You may also like

We recommend
Hoya carnosa 'Mauna Loa'
£19.99 £49.99