The Hoya in our lives

Toot's Hoya

Stephanotis

Hoyas are evergreen creepers or vines, they grow on trees (like some orchids) or in soil. They are climbers and can reach heights up to 18 metres. We were given a cutting several years ago by our friends Derek and Gloria. They said it was a Stephanotis or 'Madagascar Jasmine'. 

"Feed me Seymour"

Toot, who has green fingers, has kept  it in a pot in our 'lean-to' conservatory ever since and it has grown and grown!     "Feed me Seymour, Feed me" Little Shop of Horrors.








The flowers, which appear in clusters, are very waxy and pleasantly fragrant. They leak copious amounts of a clear sticky nectar, so much so that for awhile Toot thought the plant had contracted some sort of virus. 

A flower head on Toot's  Hoya

The plant is frost intolerant so in our climate we are going to have to keep it indoors. At the rate at which it is growing it could take control.

For more information on Hoyas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoya
Fore more information on 'Little Shop of Horrors'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7SkrYF8lCU