Hoya
I was gifted this fun insect flowerpot on May 7, 2026
Love it and thank you Jackie!
Love it and thank you Jackie!
Origin of the Name "Hoya"
The name Hoya has two main origins — one botanical and one geographical/historical.
Botanical origin
In horticulture, Hoya refers to a genus of over 500 species of tropical climbing plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), known for their waxy, fragrant flowers. The genus was first formally described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown in his work Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen. Brown named it in honor of Thomas Hoy, an English gardener and horticulturist who worked for the Duke of Northumberland and was known for his expertise in cultivating exotic plants. This naming reflects the tradition of honoring botanists and gardeners in plant taxonomy.
Summary
The name Hoya has two main origins — one botanical and one geographical/historical.
Botanical origin
In horticulture, Hoya refers to a genus of over 500 species of tropical climbing plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), known for their waxy, fragrant flowers. The genus was first formally described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown in his work Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen. Brown named it in honor of Thomas Hoy, an English gardener and horticulturist who worked for the Duke of Northumberland and was known for his expertise in cultivating exotic plants. This naming reflects the tradition of honoring botanists and gardeners in plant taxonomy.
Summary
- As a plant genus: Named after Thomas Hoy, 1810, in honor of a 19th-century English gardener.
