Hoya Krimson Princess vs. Krimson Queen: I Labeled Mine Wrong—Here’s How to Tell the Difference

Like many of you, I adore variegated Hoyas—and Hoya carnosa ‘Krimson Princess’ and ‘Krimson Queen’ are among the most iconic. But even seasoned collectors (myself included) can occasionally get them confused. Case in point: I recently posted a bloom video from my beautiful trailing Princess and captioned it as a Queen.

The leaves told the real story—I just didn’t look closely enough.

So let’s set the record straight with a proper side-by-side comparison of these two classic cultivars, and why it's easy (but fixable!) to get them mixed up.

👑 Krimson Queen: White on the Edges

• Botanical name: Hoya carnosa ‘Krimson Queen’

• Foliage variegation: Green centers with white or cream margins

• Growth tip color: New leaves often emerge pink, then fade

• Growth habit: Can produce all-green or all-white vines

• Blooms: Classic H. carnosa umbels—no difference from Princess

🔎 ID Tip: If the leaf edges are variegated and the center is solid green, it’s a Queen.

🌿 Krimson Princess: White in the Center

• Botanical name: Hoya carnosa ‘Krimson Princess’

• Foliage variegation: Creamy-pink centers with green margins

• Growth tip color: New growth often has a peach or pink blush

• Growth habit: Compact and slightly slower-growing than Queen

• Blooms: Identical to Queen—fragrant pink-white star-shaped flowers

🔎 ID Tip: If the leaf centers are variegated and edges are green, it’s a Princess.

🧬 Why This Happens

These are both chimeric variegated cultivars of Hoya carnosa, and they’re widely propagated through cuttings. Their flower morphology is nearly identical—so blooms alone won’t help you distinguish them. Only the foliar variegation pattern reveals their identity.

Environmental stress, lighting, and even nutrient imbalance can affect color expression—but the pattern stays consistent. In my case, I was focused on the bloom and didn’t stop to check the leaf margins. Classic case of plant-blindness in the moment.

🎥 Why I’m Leaving My Video Up

Instead of taking the video down or editing the caption, I decided to leave it up and use the error as a learning opportunity—not just for others, but for myself. Even in a collection full of labels and reference photos, our eyes can deceive us when we’re distracted by a bloom.

So yes—my blooming Hoya was a Krimson Princess, not a Queen. But the joy it brought remains the same. 🌸

🌱 Final Thoughts

Whether you're Team Queen or Team Princess, both cultivars deserve space in any Hoya lover’s collection. Their care is identical, their blooms are stunning, and their foliage is endlessly photogenic. Just be sure to check the center vs margin before hitting “post.”