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Does anyone have experience with this one.I love the foliage but need to know about flowering.Thinking whether I should buy-
Does it flower easy or takes too long?
Do flowers have any fragrance?
I've had one for years Alka but its never flowered, so I'm not the right person to ask that question. I can attest though that it is a hardy plant that has lived through many periods of outright neglect. Obviously it won't flower with this type of care, but it won't die either.
Thanks Christine. Your answer does help. All the info I read on this plant,lists that it has gorgeous leaves. They look just the kind I am looking for.But I do not see much info on flowers.
Couple of places that do mention flowers,seem to indicate it takes a while to bloom.
Seems like people grow this just for foliage. I would get tired of just looking at leaves.
Wonder if anyone else has experience with this one.
Name: Carol Noel Hawaii (near Hilo) It's all about choices.
The flowers on H. polystacha, IMHO, are not much to rave about. There are multiple peduncles...this is not a hoya I would keep for the flowers. Many of the big leafed hoyas are like that.
Many thanks Carol.....your reply is very helpful. I am just going to take it off my list.
Off to search for a Hoya with similar leaves and nice flowers.
Alka, as said by Carol, the blooms on H. polystachya are insignificant, there is no fragrance...but, goodness, the foliage is abosolutely gorgeous...the leaves are very large, very dark green, glossy, with a pronounced venation. This hoya grows extremely well....totally "care-free". It's one of my "mostest favoritest" plants. I don't even miss the lack of blooms, the sight of this hoya is a beauty to behold!! P.S. some folks sell this hoya as H. glabra (Sabah)...but, this is incorrect. A hoya definitely worth having!! Give it a second thought!! Fondly, Patrick
Thanks Patrick, OK ,it goes back on the list. Lovely pictures of it everywhere.Seems like just the right shape and shine etc on leaves that I am looking for. However,flowers are a big consideration for me.
Do you have flowers on yours? Did it take too long to flower?
I read that it has multiple peduncles at the same time and when it starts blooming it looks like it is always in bloom.
I was looking on the web,like macrophylla too but it seems it takes too long before it would bloom.Then it seems like there are 2 varieties(plain and variegated),do not know if one is better than the other.
Another one - latifolia is nice but seems like it takes a while to fill up and then to bloom, and leaves seem too round ..... I may be wrong though. Too much conflicting info on websites.
May be these big leaves take up plants energy in the beginning and delay blooming. I do not mind waiting a year or two for flowers ......possibly even 3 if it is going to be great.....
Please let me know if you know of any other with similar type leaves.
Sorry for so many questions and bugging about this.
Alka, sorry, but my H. polystachya has never bloomed...insufficient light, I'm sure. The H. macrophyllas are nice plants, the variegated one is VERY popular and very beautiful...neither are great bloomers...I've heard from forum members that it's taken over 6 or 7 years to get a bloom on the macrophyllas...but, the variegated one is gorgeous...the leaves are a fraction of the size of polystachya. I wouldn't recommend H. latifolia or H. loyceandrewsiana to my worst enemy!! These two hoyas have nice-sized leaves, but they send out large vines that rarely grow leaves...most of the leaves on mine abort before they reach 2-3 inches in size, also much smaller leaves than polystachya. H. tjadasmalangensis is a hoya with great leaves, albeit not as large as polystachya, but more of a willing bloomer. Please keep in mind that I grow strictly indoors under artificial light...you would have a significantly easier time getting these hoyas to bloom in Florida. I guess that I shouldn't have responded in the first place, as living in the north is so different from living in the south...you will be able to bloom many hoyas years before I will even see a peduncle. I only posted to tell you of my great fondness for H. polystachya...the leaves are truly a "work of art". I am in the process of adding additional lights to my sunroom...which may help H. polystachya to bloom, but I love this hoya so much, that blooms couldn't add anything to this plant. Those of you living in the south will have much greater success with blooming most hoyas than us in the north...even the macrophylla's will probably bloom for you much earlier than for us in the north or midwest. I can't think of any other large-leaf hoyas that are early/easy bloomers...H. excavata is another excellent, large-leafed hoya...mine is too young to bloom, so I can't say how easy or difficult it is to bloom. H. glabra lacks the sheen of the hoyas already mentioned, but it does bloom easier, weak scent, blooms last a single day for me....another one of my favourites, but the leaves are no match for H. polystachya, but then again, there are few that could match the beauty...in my eyes, of H. polystachya. I hope this helps, fondly, Patrick
Oh Patrick,please do not say that you should not have responded about polystachya.
Did I say something that made you feel that way? If so,my apologies.
I am thinking Now that you felt this way because I asked about flowers on yours.
It was just asimple question and look, you gave a beautiful answer.
Where do you live Patrick? Hope you do not mind me asking.I am new here and your location is not listed on the forum,hence I ask.
Your response is actually very helpful. I am just asking questions so I can make up my mind.I understand that it might be easier for plants to bloom here due to weather. I did not know you grow all yours indoor.Since I will be growing outside,there may be a chance it will bloom.
And if it does not, I would not blame you nor I would hold you responsible and same for anyone else who gives any comments.......as I understand that personal abilities and growing conditions vary and make a difference.
You also provided your input on other varieties which is also very very helpful in my search.
Personal experience of members here is very valuable to me, that is why I am asking here for help.You have very good points regarding why you like polystachya. I was wondering same.....whether it will bloom here if I grow outside. Also your comparison with other plants is really great and I am truly thankful for that.
It is hard to find the comparison analysis on web.
So please,feel free to respond without any worries. I am also hoping that people in south regions will also shine some light here. I am all ears and eyes right now.
No, no, no Alka..you said nothing that made me think that I shouldn't have posted...only the fact that hoyas/plants will differ greatly depending on their environment..and since my environment is so atypical, it's more of an exception to the rule. Also, many northerners have tremendous success blooming hoyas...excluding me!! I live in Michigan...very close to the North Pole!! LOL Thanks for your kind words!! Fondly, Patrick
Thanks Patrick. It is quite an accomplishment to grow Hoyas in Michigan.I know how it feels,we lived in Minnesota (St. Paul) for a few years. Here in Florida,I miss that snow and the fir trees.
Thanks for the response, I feel better now.
Well guess what I found this morning. Lots peduncles and buds on my poly. I had putit in a south facing window when I brought it in for the winter. I just kinda ignored it and gave it a little drink every now and then. This morning I decided to pull it out, pick on it and give a good drink. Boy was I surprised. I will take pictures, hopefully tomorrow some will open up. I am afraid to even breath on it. I have heard this isn't a very frequent. Producer, but mine looks like it is on steroids.
Well done Dee!!! Some of our finest triumphs are by accident! You obviously provided the perfect growing conditions, and you will be handsomely rewarded. Can't wait to see those pics!!!!
