Hoya darwinii was discovered in 1909 by A. Loher, who named it in honor of Charles Darwin in Darwin’s centenary year. It is endemic to the Philippines and found at different elevations in a few different provinces. It is also called the Ant Hoya, because like Dischidia pectinoides, it will form special leaves that turn into a ball in which ants will take up residence. The waste generated by the ants will provide nutrients for the plant in areas where there in little in the way of nutrients.