[2] Plants in the genus Hoya are mostly epiphytic or lithophytic vines, rarely subshrubs, with leathery, fleshy or succulent leaves, shortly tube-shaped or bell-shaped flowers with five horizontally spreading lobes, the flowers in umbels or racemes, and spindle-shaped or cylindrical to oval follicles containing flattened egg-shaped to oblong seeds.

[2][4][5] The genus was first formally described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown in his book Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen,[7] and honours Thomas Hoy, the gardener for the Duke of Northumberland.

[7] Many species of Hoya are popular houseplants in temperate areas (especially H. carnosa), grown for their attractive foliage and strongly scented flowers.

[citation needed] Hoya carnosa has been shown in recent studies at the University of Georgia to be an excellent remover of pollutants in the indoor environment.

[citation needed] Rachel Colette Conroy was appointed the International Cultivar Registration Authority for Hoya in 2023.