Hoya imbricata – The Shingle-Leaf Oddity
 
Hoya imbricata is one of the most unusual and fascinating Hoyas you can grow, famous for its large, shield-like leaves that cling flat against surfaces like living tiles. This is the true “shingle plant” of the Hoya world — a natural climber that grows in a way most people have never seen before. It’s architectural, strange, sculptural, and an absolute showpiece for collectors who appreciate the weird and wonderful side of the hobby.
 
Native to the humid rainforests of Southeast Asia, Hoya imbricata grows epiphytically along tree trunks, pressing its leaves tightly against bark to absorb moisture and create a sheltered space underneath. In cultivation, it behaves much the same way, rewarding proper mounting or a textured board with its iconic overlapping foliage.
 
 
Why You Need It
 
This plant has presence. The round, leathery, almost saucer-like leaves look nothing like traditional Hoya foliage. With silvery speckling, bold venation, and a waxy satin finish, every leaf feels like a living piece of design.
 
Collectors love Hoya imbricata for its rarity, its climbing habit, and the spectacle of watching it “shingle” properly along a board or pole. Once it starts, it’s addictive to watch. And because this plant doesn’t behave like a trailing Hoya, it becomes a real statement piece rather than background greenery.
 
It’s unique, eye-catching, and one of the few plants that can instil awe even in seasoned plant people.
 
 
How It Grows
 
Imbricata produces large, rounded leaves that press flat against whichever surface it’s climbing. To encourage its natural growth pattern, mount it on cork, wood, or a shingle board. With good humidity and filtered light, it attaches quickly and begins its unmistakable overlapping climb.
 
It prefers warm temperatures, steady watering, and higher humidity. Once established, it becomes a surprisingly steady grower and will reward you with new shingles that appear larger and more dramatic with maturity.
 
 
Care Summary
 
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Allow the mix to dry slightly between waterings
Humidity: Prefers high humidity for best shingling
Temperature: Warm, stable spot away from cold drafts
Growth Rate: Moderate, faster when mounted
Difficulty: Medium — thrives when grown as a true shingle plant
 
 
Final Word
 
Hoya imbricata is one of the most distinctive species you can add to your collection. Unusual, sculptural, and undeniably rare, it creates a living piece of art as it grows. Stock is always limited and every cutting behaves differently, so if you’re ready for a proper collector’s piece, this is the one to take home while it’s here.