Scientific/Botanical Name:
Genus: Hoya
Specie: H. bella
Variety/Cultivar:
English Name:
Common Name:
hoya, wax flower, wax plant, wax vine
Botanical Family:
Name in Latin: Apocynaceae ( formerly of Asclepiodaceae ( milk weed)
Name in English: Dogbane Family
The Plant
Origin: Asia
Growth Habit: evergreen, perennial creeper/vine
Flower: axillary umbellate clusters at tip of peduncles. Star-shaped with 5 thick waxy triangular petals: topped with star shaped corona (crown).
Blooming Period: major bloom period early spring
Leaf: simple, entire , opposite
Usage:
houseplant, or container, grown for attractive foliage and sweet scented flowers. Great in hanging baskets. Blooms last 12-14 days. Plant (years- repeats bloom)
Care and Handling
Soil: Make your own soil mixture for the Hoya bella. Use one part rinse aquarium charcoal, two parts humus, two parts garden soil, three parts sand and a dusting of broken-up eggshells. Note: You can use all-purpose potting soil and add one part sand to the mix.
Amount of water: heavy drinkers : but no heavy drinking or spraying when dormant.
Nutrition: Not a heavy feeder - fertilize occasionally - 1x spring 1x summer: liquid soluble 10-10-10-
Special handling: Not recommended to move the plant during blooming . Sun , but not direct. Handle with care - may cause skin irritation.
Special feature/remarks:
Genus named by botanist Robert Bravo in honour of his friend Thomas Hoy (bella = beautiful)