It is hard to imagine a better choice than the most common but most loyal and productive, H. carnosa. Yale

Since I have just started growing hoyas I can't weigh in yet, but I am *really* anxious to see what everyone says...

Good thread!

I think my favorite out of the ones I have is the one that i recieved labeled Darwinii. I've been told it's actually DS-70 by a few ppl. I just love the velvety leaves and the way it hangs. It's got a few pendicles on it so Im really hoping I get to see the blooms soon!

Sorry, but I cannot answer the question the way you asked it....coming up with three would still be hard, but alot less painful.

So...number one would be nummularioides, for the trailing yet bushy and full foliage, with it's crisp, deep green leaves and the tiny miniature carnosa-ish flowers that smell like roses.

number two - my cv. Mathilde, a cross between carnosa and serpens....round, succulent little leaves the size of nickels, shiny and flecked with silver, fuzzy white flowers with dark pink centers...

Number three...sigillatis, for it's graceful growth habit, for it's foliage of green and burgundy variegation with a silvery overlay that are the perfect back drop for it's delicate peach colored flowers

(I believe there may be a future for me in hoya catalog descriptions....)
These are my favorites this week, they change alot, I am starting to become more attracted to the larger leafed hoyas of which I only have a few, and I love the variegated hoyas as well.

By the way, there are alot of hoyas out there and you have plenty of time ahead of you to get them, so as a beginner, don't get carried away, get what you like, get familiar with the different varieties, and only get what your enviroment can sustain at this time. Getting alot of them is tempting in the beginning, but I started with about 8, and then a few months later 5 more, and then picked up one or two here and there every other month or so. I have the rest of my life to collect, if I get them all in the first few years, I would have nothing to look forward to anymore and I'd have to start collecting bottlecaps or salt and pepper shakers or something.

And I'll add to Ines synopsis - don't hang on to any that don't light your fire. I've got a couple I plan to get rid of just because they don't do much for me. I'd rather replace them with the big thrillers, of which there are plenty!!

Pick one - yikes! That would be hard. But if someone held a gun to my head and said they were stealing all but... two, ok I'll narrow it down to TWO because I just can't decide between the two... It would be (believe it or not!) pubicalyx 'Splash' (or 'Silver Pink' or 'Pink Silver', which is why I choose the 'Splash' euphemism...) for its gorgeous foliage, striking flowers and intoxicating fragrance. And the other one would have to be macrophylla for its knock-your-socks-off huge, patterned leaves. I've never even gotten flowers from it in all the years I've had it, but I'd probably fight to the death to keep it. The interesting irony of this is that tsangii, which I have three of, didn't make my list!!

Denise in Omaha

Oooh...toughie. Ok, I'll stick with my past answers (I don't remember which post, but I know a similar question has been asked).

1. H. carnosa 'Krimson Queen' - my first love, and I just love the foliage.

2. H. pubicalyx 'Red Buttons' - I love the foliage on this one too. The dark red new leaves are just gorgeous.

Gabi

I would have to say the Hoya fungii. I love the huge veined leaves and it is a faithful bloomer for me.
Next would be Hoya memoria because it seems to be a steady grower.
TC

TC - how big are the leaves on your memoria? I got one a couple years back that came to me as inconspicua (which I see on the island grower's website is a synonym of memoria), but I later concluded it's actually a Dischidia. It hasn't bloomed yet, so I'm still a little unsure, but I got the impression that inconspicua (memoria) had larger leaves. So how big are your leaves?

Denise in Omaha

Gabi, I think I saw a picture of that Red Buttons of yours one day when looking thru old posts - i agree, that one is gorgeous!

Mine would be obscura, because it has one of the most heavenly scents there is, and also it's a quick and easy bloomer with cool leaves in sun.

BUT of course if we could all have just one, we wouldn't be addicts...so if you allowed us to cheat and name others, a variegated compacta would be in there, too, because of those cool leaves and mocha flowers. And 'Krimson Princess.' And my little plant that has all different varieties going every whichaway in one pot. ;)

I have to agree that this is too tough a question. I have many favorites for different reasons. I think the most common ones are on everyones list because of the obvious reasons of their great beauty and easy care. Go with those and expand as your obsession takes over. Ha
Mare...can you post a picture in the gallery of your plant that has the different ones in it? I would love to see that. I often think of doing that & then just never do, although I have several outside on the tree that have geraniums in with them. It looks so funny to see the KP foliage and all these geranium blooms around. Ha. Pretty though.
Marcy

I know this is going to be number 4 for me- but it isn't exactly one of my favorites....I just agree with anyone who mentioned pubicalyx - it's a really great plant to get, especially for beginners. They grow quick, always look good, and are very consistant when they reach blooming age.

Wow...thanks to all of you who have replied. I am keeping my addiction under control. I've had these 6 hoya for years now, but I just started getting blooms on most of them this year...hence the NEED to get MORE. ;)

The favorite of the plants I have (right now) is my shepherdii. It's constantly growing and blooming, has an intoxicating scent (I hang it in my bedroom so it smells awesome at night) and it looks nice when its not in bloom.

My second favorite is my "Silver Pink" for the reasons others stated. It hasn't bloomed for me yet but just started growing peduncles this year so I'm hoping that this time next year I'll have blooms!

I'm thinking that I'll love the "Chimera" when it blooms. Similar to "Red Buttons" I hear.

Thanks again everyone! And sorry for repeating a recent post. I looked but didn't happen to see a similar one. Must have scrolled right over it!

Mine is the inconspicua (memoria). The leaves are not that big, probably a lil bigger than the lacunosa and they are a darker green with flecks in it. It always seems to have new reddish growth on it and it keeps getting fuller and fuller. I haven't had a problem with it at all. I bought it as inconspicua but learned later that it was memoria. Seems hardy to me.
I also got mine from an island grower's website, it came with a bloom but hasn't bloomed since. Mine is a hoya. Hope that helps.
TC

Hey Mairzy Dotes--I tried adding it in the gallery, but it won't let me. Not sure why. So I apologize, latebloomerjen, for adding it onto your post! They're just odds & ends, and the thing on top is a tillandsia aeranthos. The hoyas are DS-70, curtisii, nummularioides, brevialata, and one that was sold to me as davidcumingii but that I think will probably turn out to be kentiana/wayetii. They've been together about a year, and so far everyone seems happy! :)

I bet KP and geraniums would be a stunning combination. Would love to see that one, too!

Here is a link that might be useful: Small hoya mix

Wow, Mare, that combo plant looks good, but I agree you have kentiana there, who sold it to you as davidcumingii? I'd be a little cranky about that.

Bob Smoley's Gardenworld called it hoya davidcumingii. I wasn't too cranky about it only because he won points for calling me in person several times about my order and also sending an extra tillandsia to make up for one they were out of. But yes, I was still annoyed. Curse of the hoya world, that misnaming thing! Sooner or later we all reach the point where if we want to know we're getting the right plant, we order from She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named or trade with a reputable collector.

She-Who-Cannot-be-Named -- Ha! Thats funny. Since I have never ordered from her, I have to live vicariously through those who do, and I see what they are getting. I am just too poor to order enough plants at one time to make the shipping worth it, which is why I never get in on the Liddle orders either. Plus, with my limited space, I can justify small cuttings much easier than bigger rooted plants...but one of these days!

I love reading everyones posts!! I have to say that my favorite hoya is the hoya compacta, I just live the way it grows, and I have seen the variegated ones and think those are gorgeous as well. The smell is just perfect, not too strong, not too funky, just a nice chocolate smell. Now my answer is bound to change since the hoya obsession is only starting to take over my life.....lol. But for now I would think that is my fav.....coming in closely behind is probably the pain old green carnosa, just because the foliage is just beautiful. I have only had my compacta bloom, so I cant compare to any other flowers yet as I have not seen my others blooms.....my lacunosa has the tiniest little peduncle coming, and I am so excited!!

Tracy

Tracy...wait until you smell that lacunosa bloom. You will want to sleep with the plant. Ha.
Marcy

That's ok, mare2, I don't mind in the least. :)

Haha...yes Marcy, I hear ya on the intoxicating lacunosa scent. Mine is constantly in bloom, so I walk into my apartment every night after work and just INHALE the air. The only thing I smell is lacunosa blooms....it's just heavenly.

Gabi