I'm new and my definitely-not-a-motoskei is flowering!

Hi there
I live in the UK, and I love hoyas... I spend a lot of time trying to find out more information about them. Last year I recieved a plant labelled as Hoya Motoskei, so I just took it as such, seeing as I didn't know as much then as I do now... Christina recently pointed out to me that in fact it looked more like an Australis. But I don't think it's the normal subsp. tenuipes but actually subsp. australis, as it has fuzzy leaves that are fuzzier on the underside than the top. Also, it's flowering in the autumn which is as type for subsp. australis. However it's got at least two umbels about to flower and a couple more thinking about it.. anyone else seen this? Maybe I'm just lucky (?!?)

Let me know what you think. If you like my picture, why not wander along to www.geocities.com/hi1ls

Welcome Hills, I think I recognize you from the epiforum, right? You will love this forum, there are people with years of experience that are glad to answer questions. Nice bloom too! Have a great day and welcome! -joanne

From what I see of it, it's lovely whatever it may be. I'm sure someone will be able to help here.

S

Welcome Hills, it is beautiful no matter what it is, I am so new to this I can barely differentiate them!
BTW, spent two years in Bristol! Lived in Horfield, and have LOTS of GREAT memories from those two years!

Looks like australis to me. Oh and get ready, there smell is great. Mine is inbloom and I am very tempted to take it out of the office into another room, it is way overwhelming, but in a good way. Enjoy !!

Tammy, when my H. pimentielana is in bloom I have considered getting one of those baby packs you strap on to your front and packing my blooming plant around so I can smell it all the time! Krimson Queen would be good to but that chocolate smell would probably make me eat everything not nailed down :~)
God bless, -joanne

LOL at Joanne. Now I've heard it all. I can just see you with your "baby hoya" Ha.
Hills---it does look like a H. australis, however, I still can't tell which one. The flower does look more like australis ssp australis, however the leaf looks so shinny and dark in the picture. Mine is rather light green and fuzzy feeling. It is lovely whatever it is.
Joanne is right about this forum. If you want to go back through all the archives of posts, you will learn a lot about hoyas. (and crazy hoya addicts too.) :-D
Marcy

There are some australis ssp. australis and ssp. tenuipies that have a definite fuzz to the bottom, or bottom and top of the leaf. If it's blooming now, it's probably ssp. australis(according to D. Liddle) or ssp. tenuipies (according to C. Burton). Either way it would be the same plant with a different monicker- the fall blooming one. Is there a little red under the corona?

Great idea Joanne, and I know what you mean about wanting to eat everything in sight when you smell them. I got my first heuschkeliana from Mel and when that thing was in full bloom all I wanted was cake. I really did gain weight, now there all in the bathroom !!

Hills....can you send a photo of the bloom OPEN and of the leaves?????

Carol, where are you now? Hope your having fun! -joanne

Hello Hills, I should have looked at the photo's on your website first, I would have recognised the shots and realised who you were. Enjoy the Hoya forum they are a very friendly group.

Roy

Hi folks

It didn't smell very nice yesterday, but today I'm definitely getting a strong smell of honey. Not sure if it's good or not. But enjoying the beautiful flowers anyway! Can't complain!

there is a little red under the corona. On closer inspection of the leaves the "fuzz" on the top is probably mostly dirt (!) but there is definitely fuzz underneath the leaves. I will try and post some more photos.. this may go horribly wrong. The leaves are 5 and a half centimetres long getting to seven and a half (maybe it got fed a bit too much this summer!)
Here's a photo of the bottom of the leaf...

Here's the flowers more fully open... sorry about the quality, but this is the best my camera can do...

And a leaf, more close-up... note the engleriana trying to get in on the action!!!

YUP...that Tami is on the money!!! Good going! I love H. australis!!!

Hills... Great to see you here! Glad I was right about the australis for you.

Christina

Hi Hills and welcome to DG. Congratulations on your beautiful blooms .
Patti