I was very lucky that my tiny two inch sprig perked up and began growing roots after a couple of weeks in water. I potted it into a 3 oz clear cup with holes drilled in the bottom, and used mostly coco chips with a little perlite for a substrate. This Hoya sat there not doing much of anything for what seemed like forever, but was probably a few months. It suddenly one day though started to start showing growth points and finally began to grow, albeit slowly.
Hoya microphylla came to me as a very tiny rooted cutting in May of 2023 from my good friend Julie Kennedy. The plant was one of 16 that arrived in the form of a trade, and all of them spent far too much time in the mail. The package spent 3 days just sitting in a postal distribution facility in New Hampshire. When I finally received the package, some of the plants were not in great shape. Hoya microphylla was one of them. After watching it deteriorate for about a week, I looked at the roots which were totally gone. I decided to snip the tiny 2 inch plant and attempted to root it in a small cup of water.
“Friedrich Richard Rudolf Schlechter. 18614. Papua New Guinea: auf Bäumen in den Wäldern des Bismarck-Gebirges. Northeastern New Guinea, on trees in the forests of the Bismarck Mountains, 1100 m. Slender epiphytic half shrub with threadlike branches. Leaf blades erect, spreading, ovate, somewhat obtuse, margins recurved, reticulately nerved, leathery, glabrous, 1-2 cm long. Inflorescence umbel like, with up to 6 flowers. Sepals small, ovate, somewhat obtuse, glabrous, much smaller than those of the corolla. Corolla broadly campanulate, parted to the middle, outer surface glabrous, inner surface glabrous except for the puberulous margins of the Iobes, approx. 2 cm. in diameter, lobes somewhat orbicular, shortly acuminate, show white. Corona lobes spreading, somewhat horizontal, apex slightly acuminate, below the middle concave, under surface smooth margined, dark violet.”
A big thanks to Mary Carroll for providing the above information!
Based on the type description – A charming small species which is closely related to the two following ones (Hoya microstemma and Hoya minahassae). Its leaves are more like that of a Dischidia and are smaller than any other of the species in the section, in this area. The blooms are snow white with dark violet coronas.
Hoya microphylla was discovered by the German botanist Rudolf Schlechter in Northeastern New Guinea, on trees in the forests of the Bismarck Mountains, 1100 m. 2 November 1908.
Here is a rare set of Hoya sulawesiana buds that made it to term. I don’t seem to grow this species particularly well, or it just does not like my conditions. as most sets of buds fall off just before opening. It is just as well as this Hoya probably drips more nectar, in relation to the size of its flowers, than any other Hoya I have grown.
This is an interesting plant that has been around in the hobby since the early 2000’s. I wanted to grow it the first time that I saw its cute little yellow flowers, and am super happy that I got the chance give it a go. I don’t have anything bad to say about this plant; the flowers collect a little nectar, but not enough to drip. It is an easy grower that I think could make a somewhat unkept, but impressive looking hanging basket. If you have not tried this one yet I urge you to pick one up. I should also say that a very attractive variegated version has now been released that is quite striking.
