Ahem, anyway. So one of the hoya plants that I got was Hoya carnosa compacta, commonly called the Indian rope vine or wax plant. I had it inside all winter and it didn't do much (conditions in my house in the winter are not exactly the tropical jungle conditions of its forbears' native southeast Asia and India), but when I put it outside this summer it really took off.
I was watering the deck plants when we got back from vacation on August 22, and what did I see?! Buds!
An itty bitty little group of buds on a peduncle (flower spur)! I've never bloomed a hoya before, and I was so excited that I ran for the camera. As I was taking the picture, I saw this!
Another peduncle! With lots of buds!!
I was so excited. By August 30, the bigger cluster looked like this. Well defined now, and looking like they are ready to pop any moment.
And then... and then... on September 5, they opened!
The bigger cluster, anyway. The smaller bunch still hasn't opened. You can see why it's called Indian rope vine- the leaves are so crinkled and close to the stem that it doesn't look very leafy.
The clusters can form a nearly complete sphere of flowers.
The flowers are so pretty. They are waxy and substantial, but the surface is covered with little hairs that make them look like velvet.
They are also scented, though I don't find the fragrance of this species particularly pleasant. It's somewhat reminiscent of chocolate, but just a bit off. Sort of musky chocolate, and a bit cloying.
I'm so thrilled that one of my hoyas bloomed.
1 comment:
I love those, and mine had a lovely soft fragrance. Cool!
Post a Comment