I received a cutting of Hoya minutiflora in April of 2024 from the good folks at the *Let’s Talk Hoya Podcast* for appearing on their show the previous November. They sent me a number of nice “new to me” Hoya cuttings and this was by far the most difficult for me to grow. It rooted easily enough but it just would not grow well from the start. At one point I went to move it and broke of a tiny thread that I did not realize was actually a peduncle.
Never has a Hoya had a more appropriate name! Each flower only measures about 2.5-3 millimeters across.
Hoya minutiflora was first described in 2017 by Michele Rodda and Nathalie Simonsson in Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 69.
Hoya minutiflora was first collected in 1999 by Dr. Colin Ernest Ridsdale. “No number for original plant collection. This Hoya is known only from a living specimen growing in Leiden Hortus Botanicus and spirit material held in NHN Leiden. In Leiden Hortus records the plant is reported as being originally collected by Dr. Ridsdale without precise collection data. Only a note reports “Borneo?”. The majority of Hoya and Dischidia collections by Dr. Ridsdale growing at Leiden Hortus are from Philippines and Borneo, therefore either of these can be the most likely provenance area. Furthermore Borneo and the Philippines lie within the area of peak diversity for Hoya section Acanthostemma, where Hoya minutiflora belongs.”
Here is a teaser photo of these very tiny flowers:
This is probably the 2nd or 3rd on the list of Hoyas that I have around for the longest time. I’ve started this one over many times over the years, and for some reason I still have it. Here it is with a some flowers from this morning:
Last year about this time my Hoya microphylla started to do poorly forcing me to start it over from cuttings. This year, knock on wood, I have two specimens doing equally well meaning I don’t have to restart them. I’m pretty happy about that!
For the first time, I am growing H. desvoeuxensis in ambient conditions in the house sitting on a windowsill. It looks like it is completely comfortable, and has grown a number of peduncles with flowers. I took it outside to photograph it as it was too dark inside to get a decent shot.
The Hoya ciliata that I put outside in full blistering sun is covered in flower buds. This flower is the first of the buds to open, and is without a doubt the first of this species to flower outdoors in Vermont.
