Hoya sammannaniana was named after Datuk Sam Mannan director of the Sabah Forest Department. The plant grows in Borneo (Sabah and Kalimantan) and has only been found growing in the canopy of lowland to hill mixed dipterocarp forest below 400 m. (Taken from the book A Guide to Hoyas of Borneo by Anthony Lamb and Michele Rodda).
Hoya sammannaniana (EPC 883) is a Hoya that I have only had for a little over six months at this point. I received in as the only surviving plant in a six Hoya order from Thailand in the early autumn of 2014, and it bloomed in February of 2015. I started growing it in semi-hydro using leca, but after losing at least 10 buds at various sizes to blasting, I converted back to a regular mix, and it bloomed with a solitary flower on two separate occasions as of this writing.
Leaves grow in pairs and at every node there is a peduncle. Flowers are over and inch long and three quarters of an inch in diameter. There is no detectable scent and unfortunately the flowers only last for one day after opening. I bloomed this plant under artificial light and high humidity using a grow tent. The coronas are bright yellow and quite spectacular, but the flower itself is difficult to photograph because of its depth. At this point I think this plant is best suited to collectors and not for the casual grower. I will report back when I have had more time to cultivate and observe this unusual Hoya.
**Update October 2016**
I’ve been growing Hoya sammannaniana now, or should I say struggling with the plant, for around two years now. It is not an easy plant to grow, but is very easy to flower. I’ve now flowered the plant at least a dozen times, but have started it over at least four times. I finally have two plants that are starting to grow and are actually putting on new leaves. The plants are small, but I have hope that I can get them large enough that I won’t have to fear losing them any longer.
I am currently growing Hoya sammannaniana in a straight orchid mix comprised of only three materials Large Fir bark, Large Chunks of Charcoal, and #4 Sponge Rock. I spray the mix daily to always keep it damp and have a clear saucer under the plant in which I keep just a hint of water in most of the time. The plants roots have come out of the bottom of the pot and touch the water. The plant is growing under T-5 fluorescent lighting with high nighttime humidity. I will report back at a future date on whether this set up continues to work with the plant.
