|Distribution:||Rainforests and rainforest margins from north-eastern New South Wales to north-eastern Queensland.|
|Common Name:||Common waxflower.|
|Derivation of Name:||Hoya; after Thomas Hoy, English gardener.
australis; southern, referring to the global distribution of the species.
|Conservation Status:||Not considered to be at risk in the wild|
Hoya is a genus of around 200 species with seven occurring in Australia. They are climbing plants with succulent foliage and the genus is popular in horticulture with numerous forms and cultivars being grown by enthusiasts. H.australis is the most widespread and the most commonly grown of the Australian species.
There are two subspecies: subsp.australis which has rounded leaves and subsp.sana which has narrower leaves with a pointed apex.
Photo: Brian Walters
Hoya australis is a moderately vigorous climbing species. The leaves are thick and glossy and about 40-50 mm in diameter. The stems contain a white, milky sap. Flowers occur in clusters of up to 40, each on a long pedicel (stalk) and about 20 mm in diameter. They are borne on the same stalk in successive seasons and are fragrant, white in colour with deep red markings in the centre. The seed pods are long and slender, about 100 mm long containing a number of seeds.
The species is popular in cultivation in tropical and subtropical areas and is successful in temperate areas if protected from frost (the species will tolerate light frosts). Good drainage is essential. H.australis is also suited to growing in containers and hanging baskets as it seems tolerant of root constraint. Flowering is best if good light is available but the plant will grow in reasonably heavy shade.
H.australis can be grown from fresh seed, which requires no pretreatment. Cuttings also strike readily.