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Hoya bella

W. J. Hooker

Published in Curtis Botanical Magazine 74, tab. 4402 (1848) by W. J Hooker. It was collected by Thomas Lobb. Hoya bella originates from Indonesia and Himlayas. The name bella means beautiful. The last valid publication regarding this species was done by D. H. Kent in Asklepios 23:27 (1981) where he says it is a subspecies to Hoya lanceolata, hence naming this one to Hoya lanceolata subsp. bella. This publication is questioned and I have also heard that Kent himself doubted it was correct doing that publication. I have therefore chosen to use this species original name Hoya bella.

Hoya bella is one of the most common hoyas in cultivation in Sweden. It is one of those hoyas you often find at the florist's. I have had problems growing Hoya bella and it often got two-spotted spider mites. It took me some time to figure out what it needed to thrive and now I have learned to water it more regularly and I also grow it in my cooler garden room. So, now I do not seem to have any more problems with it. Once it has started to get it in bloom it does not seem to want to stop.

Hoya lanceolata subsp. bella does not have any climbing abilities so it is best grown in a hanging basket. If you can hang it high it is easier to enjoy the flowers which hang down and always come at the ends of the branches. After the flowers withered the peduncles fall off.

To the left; the pollinarium which measures 1 mm.

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Copyright © Jeanette Karlsen