Differences & Similarities Between Hoya Rebecca & Hoya Sunrise [!Explained]

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I am pretty sure that you are confused about identifying the Hoya Rebecca and Hoya Sunrise. If you are really confused about them you are in the right place.

The main difference between Hoya Rebecca and Sunrise is Hoya Rebecca has light green colored leaves with reddish purple shade undersides, where the Hoya Sunrise has thick and dark green in color leaves with visible light green veins and red, purplish flecks. Rebecca’s flower is bright pink in color with light yellow center. And Sunrise’s flower is cream colored and light yellow in the center.

Both are so pretty and make your home gorgeous. Sometimes people are facing problems identifying Rebecca and Sunrise.

I have a Hoya Rebecca and Hoya Sunrise. I observe them and find some differences. I will tell you the basic difference between them.

Hey, wait. They have some similarities also. The quantity of similarities is more than the differences. That’s why people are becoming confused. In the last part, we will talk about it.

After reading this you will easily identify the Hoya Rebecca and Sunrise.

Comparison Between Hoya Rebecca and Sunrise

ObjectsHoya RebeccaHoya Sunrise
Leaf SizeSmallComparatively Large
LeavesLight Green with Reddish Purple shade underside.Dark Green Color, Visible Light green vein and red, purplish flecks.
Color of New growthRich Purple Red
FlowerBright Pink color with yellow centerCream color with light yellow center
Height6-8 feet9 feet
Comparision Table of Hoya Rebecca vs Sunrise

Overview of Hoya Rebecca vs Sunrise

Hoya Rebecca is a highly collectable cross between Hoya lacunosa Langawi Island x Hoya obscura. Hoya Sunrise is a cross between Hoya lacunosa ssp. Pallidiflora and Hoya obscura.

Both are elegant plants of the Apocynaceae family and Hoya genus.

Hoya Rebecca is a vining epiphytic plant. It is attractive because of its waxy foliage and sweetly scented flowers. The scientific name of this plant is H. cv Rebecca. It is a vining and climbing cultivar.

Hoya Sunrise was hybridized by Micheal Miyashiro in 1992. It is also a climbing cultivar with medium-sized leaves. The leaves of this plant are dark green with veins and red flecks.

Hoya sunrise goes by many common names. It is also known as Waxflower, Waxplant, Waxvine. All these names refer to the same plant, known by the scientific name Hoya sp. ‘Sunrise’.

Hoya Rebecca and Hoya Sunrise both are the different varieties of Hoya genus. As both plants are from the Hoya genus, they have many similarities. So people get confused to identify them. But they also have some distinct differences.

If we notice closely then we can see that the leaves are different of these two plants. Hoya Rebecca has green waxy leaves. The leaves produce a rich purple shade when exposed to the sun or when new growth emerges, revealing the magnificent veins which dissect the foliage.

On the other side, the leaves of Hoya sunrise are dark green with visible veins and red flecks.

Both plants are easy to care and very attractive houseplants because of their scented flowers. Like many other types of Hoya’s, these species are epiphytic in their natural habitat and both have crinkly succulent leaves.

Do you know the difference between Hoya Krimson Queen and Krimson Princess?

Why identification matters?

Only one reason to find out the true identity of the plant is Botanical curiosity. Even though Hoya Rebecca and Sunrise are closely related, they have distinct differences.

The main difference is in the leaves. The Sunrise leaves are larger than Rebecca leaves.

Rebecca has nice small foliage. They are light green in color with visible vein and rich purple shade. Whereas, Sunrise leaves are dark green in color with veins and red flecks.

They also have differences in flower color. The flowers of Sunrise are cream-yellow in color and have a refreshing fragrance. On the other side, Rebecca’s flowers are bright pink with a light yellow center.

How Does Both of The Plants Look Like?

Both of them are looking gorgeous. They will surely increase the beauty of your indoor. Here is the picture of them both.

How Does Hoya Rebecca Look Like?

Hoya Rebecca
Hoya Rebecca

Image Source : Greenthumb Dad


How Does Hoya Sunrise Look Like?

Hoya Sunrise
Hoya Sunrise

Hoya Rebecca Overview

Hoya Rebecca is a climbing cultivar and a vining epiphytic plant which has attractive waxy foliage and produces sweetly scented flowers. It is a cultivar of Hoya lacunose x Hoya obscura. This natural cross occurred in US.

The leaves of Hoya Rebecca are very attractive waxy, matte green in color which has visible vein and red undersides. If it is grown in bright light, it will be found amazing red color.

However, the leaves produce a rich purple shade when exposed to sun or new growth emerges. The leaves have magnificent veins that dissect the foliage.

The flowers of Hoya Rebecca are bright pink in color and have a light yellow center. The flowers are small, ball shaped. It is star shaped in the center and looks like they are made of wax.

There are tiny hairs on the flower’s surface giving a fuzzy appearance. They are heavily scented and the fragrance is light, sweet and fresh. The blooming time of Rebecca is summer, late summer or early fall.

Hoya Rebecca is very easy to care for houseplants. It wants bright, indirect light and can tolerate morning and evening light. But the leaves become yellow and scorch if it is kept in the hot midday sun.

Rebecca requires well-drained and lightweight soil and fast-draining potting mix. It should be repotted at least every year with a coarse, extremely well-draining substrate.

Hoya Rebecca needs to be watered carefully. Excess watering is harmful for the plant. It should be watered thoroughly, allowing excess to drain.

This plant can handle continual temperatures down to 15C (60F). Temperatures above 35C can harm the growth of the plant.

Hoya Rebecca trails and climbs 6 to 8 feet.

Hoya Sunrise Overview

Hoya Sunrise is an elegant plant of the Hoya genus which is highly collectable cross between Hoya lacunosa spp. pallidiflora and Hoya obscura. The origin of the plant is South East Asia. It is a beautiful climber which is attractive for thick leaves with green veins and red, purplish flecks and flowers with beautiful scent.

The leaves are dark green in color and it has visible veins and red flecks. They are teardrop shaped and when exposed to direct sunlight it turns into rich maroon red.  Sunrise leaves are comparatively larger than Rebecca’s leaves. It reveals a stunning venation on the leaves when kept in the direct sunlight.

Sunrise is very attractive for its small cream yellow blooms which have a refreshing fragrance. Initially, the flowers appear in the form of pale, chickpea-like buds. Later it reveals itself to be light yellow with touches of white cream.

Hoya Sunrise is relatively easy to grow. Bright shade and gentle direct sunlight can encourage faster growth and more blooms. It needs full sun to partial shade.

As like Hoya Rebecca, this plant also needs lightweight, fast-draining potting mix. Hoya hates clogged soil.

You may also like Complete Care Guide of Hoya Retusa with Propagation.

This plant should not be over or under watered. Watering should be done when succulent leaves are slightly soft and that the medium is completely dry or when leaves loose turgidity. Soil should be allowed to dry out slightly between each watering.

It requires temperature between 60-70F.

This hybrid plant can grow up to 9 feet long. This plant rarely needs repotting.

This is not a pet friendly plant.

Though these two plants have many similarities as they are from same genus, they have some differences too. Now it’s time to discuss the differences and later we will discuss the similarities.

Difference between Hoya Rebecca and sunrise

Taxonomy Differences

Plant taxonomy is the science that finds, identifies, describes, classifies and names plants.

As both Hoya Rebecca and Sunrise are the two varieties of same genus ‘Hoya’, it’s hard to figure out the difference between them. But if we check the taxonomy of these two plants, we can see that these two have their own uniqueness.

Hoya Rebecca is highly collectable cross between Hoya lacunosa Langawi Island x Hoya obscura. The scientific name of this plant is H. cv Rebecca.

On the other side, Hoya sunrise is a cross between Hoya lacunose ssp. Pallidiflora and Hoya obscura. The scientific name of this plant is Hoya sp. ‘Sunrise’.

Leaf difference between Hoya Rebecca and Sunrise

The leaves of these two plants are almost similar in the appearance. But if we notice carefully we can see that they have some differences which make it possible to identify them.

Color and Texture

The leaves of Hoya Rebecca are light green in color with red undersides. And it has magnificent light green veins that dissect the leaves. If the plant gets bright sunlight then it produces rich purple shade.

Hoya Rebecca Leaves

Hoya Rebecca Leaves
Hoya Rebecca Leaves

Hoya Sunrise Leaves

Hoya Sunrise Leaves
Hoya Sunrise Leaves

On the other hand, Hoya Sunrise leaves are thick and dark green in color with visible light green veins and red, purplish flecks. It turns into a rich maroon red color when exposed to direct sunlight. And it has a stunning venation on the leaves.

Leaf Size

The leaves of Hoya Rebecca are small in size. They are 2.5-6 cm long, 1-2 cm wide and very prominent veins.

On the other side, the leaves of Hoya sunrise are comparatively larger than Rebecca leaves.

Color of new grown leaves

When new growth emerges, the leaves of Hoya Rebecca produce a rich purple shade.

On the other side, the new leaves of Hoya Sunrise are often very red and as they age, leaves fade to a nice red tone.

Flower Differences

The main difference of these two plants is in the flower. People can identify these two plants easily by seeing the color of flower.

Hoya Rebecca Flower

Looks so stunning. The inflorescence is made up multiple bloom, grouped in an umbel.


If you notice at the flower you will see they are bright pink with a light yellow center. They are star shaped. The surface of the flower is covered with tiny hairs which gives you a fuzzy vive. Also they are heavily scented.

Hoya Rebecca Flower

Hoya Rebecca Flower
Hoya Rebecca Flower

Hoya Sunrise Flower

Hoya Sunrise Flower
Hoya Sunrise Flower


Like all other Hoya species, Hoya Rebecca also flowers from spurs. The first spurs normally not produces flower. Then from the second one flowers are produced from the same spurs, so they should be remained long time.

Hoya Sunrise Flower

Hoya Sunrise Flower is also super cool and beautiful. They are cream color and light yellow in the center. If you observe closely you will notice the front portion is curved back. And in my opinion, they are toffee color.

While I smelled the flower of Hoya sunrise I feel that it scented like stuff that we use to write letters. What do you feel? I definitely wanna know in the comment section.

In the initial time, flowers appear in the form of pale, chickpea-like buds.

Height difference between the two plants

Hoya Rebecca is a climbing cultivar. That’s why you cannot say the exact size of them. I can say that the plant is approximately 20cm long while you collect it from the nursery. Then while fully aged it can grow and climb approximately 6 feet to 8 feet.

On the other hand, Hoya Sunrise can grow up to 9 feet.

Similarities Between Them

These two plants have more similarities than differences because they are from same family and genus. Their origin is the same. They are almost similar in the appearance.

We have discussed the differences before. Now we can see the details about the similarities of these two plants.

Leaves Similarities

Though the leaves have color differences, they are same in the shape. Both the plant leaves are teardrop shaped. Both plants have waxy leaves and when exposed to sun they produce a reddish purple shade.

Flower Similarities

Flower of the Hoya Rebecca and Sunrise are different in color but they are similar in the shape. Both flowers are small ball-shaped and star shaped in the center.

Both plant flowers are attractive for their refreshing fragrance.

Blooming time

Both plants bloom at the same time. Blooming time of these two plants is summer, late summer or early fall.

They won’t flower unless it receives very bright indirect sunlight. They also can tolerate a little direct sunlight. The ideal place for these plants is a south-facing window.

Growing Requirements

Both plants are easy to grow and require low maintenance. Their growing requirements are similar.  

Watering

Both plants need watering when medium is completely dry or when leaves loose turgidity. Let it dry out between watering.

Over and under watering can harm the plant growth. If you overwater them you may notice the root rot problem. So you need to be concern about the watering of both hoya rebecca and sunrise.

Soil

They both required same type of soil. Though you may choice soil from different potting mix from amazon. But the must be the following characteristics. Like lightweight, fast-draining etc. So this type of soil is required for Hoya Rebecca and sunlight both plants.

Light

Both plants need ample sunlight for the leaves to develop red-purple coloration. Light should be bright but indirect.      

Propagation

Both plants can be propagated by cuttings in a sphagnum moss medium, high humidity and some patience.

Price

Price of both Hoya Rebecca and Sunrise are almost the same. The average price ranges from $40 to $65. The Rebecca price starts from $30. You can found them in the local nursery also in some online e-commerce stores.

Final word

Hoyas are the most attractive houseplants because of their waxy succulent leaves and scented flowers.  

Both Hoya Rebecca and Sunrise are the amazing houseplants and they require very low maintenance. So people can easily grow them and enrich the beauty of the house.

Almost every time people get confused in identifying them as they are almost similar. But I hope after reading the comparative discussion given in this article it will help enough to identify them properly.

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