3 favorite Hoyas

I thought that since we're about to do a Hoya Swap and ordering from David Liddle, this would be a good time for everyone to point out their favorite Hoyas, and say a few words about them. Here are my three favorite, in no particular order, and a photo of australis ssp. australis 'Brookfield' (just in case you all aren't sick of seeing it yet).

1- the above mentioned clone of australis, 'Brookfield', is one of my very favorites. David Liddle calls this clone "the best", and I agree completely. The new growth is a dark bronzy purple, the older leaves are a rich dark green. It is a very vigorous grower and bloomer, displaying these pristine 3/4" flowers all autumn and sporadically the rest of the year. They smell wonderfull, and can fill up a room come dusk.
2- H. compacta, for its strange stems of blackish-green twisted leaves that really do look like a rope (a common name is "Hindu rope plant") and golfball sized clusters of soft pink flowers. The scent is very similar to carnosa, I think a little sweeter. It blooms throughout the year.
3- DS-70 (syn H. burtoniae and H.tsangii), for its delicate inch long leaves, olive green or rusty-margined in strong light, with a very soft nap. A very delicate appearing plant overall, with rose red clusters of flowers throught the year. Smells of butterscotch, like many Acanthostemma Hoyas (hueshkeliana, wayetii, davidcumingii, etc.) but apparently this one has the strongest perfume. This also blooms on and off all year long.

P.S. I have tried to grow H. subcalva several times, with little luck. I'm ordering one from David Liddle soon, and if I ever get it to do well, I think this one will bump someone off this list.

Only 3? Well that is not fair! My 3 favorite Hoyas change each day, however, here are my favorite 3 today!

1. H. lacunosa with the heart shaped leaf. This plant was a gift from Cindy and the plant is nothing short of precious. It is in continual bloom and I adore the foliage.

2. H. subcalva. IML 0229
Mark, I had a little trouble getting this plant growing too. I must say, it was well worth the effort! The blooms are awesome. The colors changed daily and if you like the smell of grape juice, it is a must have! I find the leaves a little boring, but, the bloom makes up for it!

3. H. cv Iris Marie
I bought this plant 4 or 5 years ago and had about given up on ever seeing a bloom. Let me tell you, once it started blooming in the spring, it has not stopped!

Those are todays 3 favorites. Ask me tomorrow, and you will likely hear 3 different species.

Oh my....I have WAY too many to figure out just 3. For sure my variegated australises (Lisa and the regular one). Other than that, I guess that sp Sabah (callistophylla) with those distinct lovely veined leaves. I must go with leaves for the favs as the blooms are way to short lived. If I were to go with 3 favs for the flowers alone, it would have to be those huge hand sized flowers I get on that pubicalyx 'Dapple Gray'. The other 3 would be 'Sunrise' for the smell and the bella for the beauty of looking up at one all in boom. Of course these could also all change tomorrow. Ha. Also, I have many that I have never seen bloom so that could change the whole preferance picture too.
Hey... is the subcalva IML 0229 you are talking about the same thing as the one Carol sells as BSI 1 ??

No clue Marcie. My plant came from David Liddle.

I hear you on the blooms. New Hoyas blooms make me change my favorite species in a New York second.

It IS so hard to pin them down....

Not in this order - but my faves (as I write this) are H. australis for the consistency and robustness of the plant and the copious flowers, H. lacunosas (all of them and hybrids and all the section) for their blooms and fragrance and then H. aff. albiflora for the incredible flowers and the fragrance.

Marcy....yes...was.

Carol

This message was edited Aug 12, 2006 6:50 AM

Okay... Today's three favourites are:

* onychoides - for the lovely dark green foliage and because it's blooming so often here!

* juanngoiana - for the super lovely fragrant flowers that has THE best fragrance among my hoyas!

* australis 'Lisa' - for the foliage!

Ask me another day and the three would probably be different!

Christina

Ok, for today ...

Good old H. lacunosa because its growth looks like a big mountain of greenery cascading down the sides of the pot into these wonderful, long streams of green, and it is generous with its blooms so my home always smells like the freshly-scrubbed face of a cute little baby.

H erythrina because the leaves are so victorian - make me wanna put on a corset and sing "hail to the queen" (Victoria that is, although I did worship Freddie Mercury...). And, when I finally coax it to bloom, I am met with a most unusual carmel color setting against the purple and green of its long, ruffled leaves.

H. tjadasmalanguensis because the leaves are luscious and meaty with prominant veins and large speckles, and the sweet blooms present themselves often, filling the house with the most amazing scent.

Tomorrow, I will probably be in love with three different ones (but if I could add a fourth ... I really do love my H. fraterna because it has rewarded me twice in as many months with light, peach scented blooms that are so big and furry [like an old, well-loved teddy bear's fur], and the leaves look like they've been buffed & waxed, because they are just the most shiny, beautiful things). Wait, there is my cv. Jennifer too which I love to sit and look at.....

Only three? Completely unfair ... I'm having a Sophie's Choice moment right now....
;-)
Ann

Mel, subcalva really has been my holy grail of Hoyas. The last one was a real pain, but I decided to order both clones that DL has for sale, and hope for the best.
Juanngoiana, huh? I looked at your website, Christina, and it is pretty. Is that related to the finlaysonii bunch?

Mark, keep at the subcalva. I rooted and rotted my cutting more than one time. It is so worth the effort. You may have just started out with a cutting or plant that was cursed from the start.
Christina, I took a look as well. Your website is excellent. It draws you in and once you click in, it is hard to leave!

M&M well here is my subcalva, it's doing wonderfully and I haven't even used any hoya magic dust on it. Sorry about the background mess, photo was taken in the greenhouse. My three fav hoyas are: lambii, teretifolia and curtsii.

Blessings,
Awanda

Mel, I think you're right, some cuttings are just cursed. My first subcalva was a cutting, very healthy looking, that rooted quickly but then started acting strangely (weird colors and distortions) and never would grow well, no matter what. Definitely it had the Hoya Curse!

I would def. have to choose H. bella, I love the fullness of the plant and the beautiful display of blooms.

I love the verticillata's, they smell so wonderful and are very generous with there blooms, sometimes reblooming up to 5 times.

I really like heuschkeliana, it's just so darn dainty, always in bloom, and smells soooo good.

Thanks for all the info on subcalva, sounds like this is not the hoya for me... Mel your subcalva flower is beautiful.

Mark is your australis blooming now?

Tami, it is. It has had one flush, and seems to be starting another. Usually it goes to around christmas. It's a very large plant, and is root-bound, which really seems to help with the flowering.

This is a nice thread - my three favorites today are h. callistophylla - the leaves, color of buds and flowers are all so prehistoric, h. lacunosa - because it has flowered for me (!) and because the fragrance is wonderful, and h. cv Joy - again because of the leaves. Or maybe it's h. deykei, or obovata, or...

I cut mine back as you suggested earlier this year. It did send out some new shoots and grew 4 peduncles. I will have to check it out tomorrow and see if anything is happening. It has just done wonderful outside to. It's leaves just seemed to plump right up from all the humidity we have been having.