Hi Kim, there are more varieties of Hoya australis. Hoya australis lisa, H. australis kapaho, australis rupicola, australis oramicola, australis variegata, australis keysii, australis tonga, australis tenupes, australis Mrs G and australis lizard isle, Hoya australis ssp. australis. Did I miss any?

Thank you Jan. What is the story behind the Lizard Island one that violet barn carries? Tenuipes has more of a pointy petal to the bloom, does ot not? Is there much in the way of variation between blooms, and which one(s) are the wild type? I love all of yours, especially the Lisa. Add another Hoya to my wish list, ha! I have no idea where I am going to put all mine. Clearly grow lights are in my future.

Jan Sword, the plant in your photo titled "H. australis rupicola" isn't rupicola. The leaves of rupicola are thicker, more succulent. They have tips but the leaves are more rounded towards the end.

Tropic breeze, Another person(very knowledgeable Hoya person) and others had a serious discussion about rupicola and oramicola on Facebook forum, came to a conclusion mine is rupicola and the thick leaved one is oramicloa. :) ;)

Kim, I am not sure about the lizzard isle and wild crosses. They all smell nice.(one's I have)

I am wondering if it is actually a unique strain. I sent an email to VB, hopefully they can tell me a bit more to satisfy my curiosity. I had read that tenuipes can do well in particularly low light, anyone know if this is true?

That was fast. Rob at violet barn is unsure about the origins, thinks it was aquired some 12 years ago from a grower in Pittsburg. Apparently the leaves are thinner and smaller than tenuipes with similar blooms.

What's nice with VB is they get back to you very fast. :)

Yeah, the plants may be small and the leaf clipping annoying, but the customer service is great. I will probably order from them again, get my mom some African violets, maybe a linearis for myself.

Hate to link to another forum, (personally I like this one better, clearly.) but found some great info here-http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/562964/

Tropic, so mine is back to oramicola?

Apart from rupicola, I find it difficult to pick the differences from photos. For the others I generally go by provenance, if known. I've heard that there is some oramicola on the mainland coast opposite the islands (David Liddle mentioned it to me) but have never found any. So, not having been over to the islands, I've never seen it in habitat. I've collected what I think are sanae and tenuipes, but should probably get a magnifying glass on to them just to be sure. I was going to ask David about them but unfortunately he passed away.

A dichotomous key for your area might be helpful. There could be one online. Let me know should you ever attempt that, I can help translate all the terms into actual words should you be unfamiliar with them.

Thanks Kim. It's been on my "to do" list for a while now. I've got published descriptions of the subspecies but not a dichotomous key. I'm familiar with many of the terms but have access to glossaries as well.

By the way, Lizard Island is off the coast from the main H. australis ssp sanae area.

Do you know if that is where this strain originated?

That I don't know. But many Hoya cultivars are named for the locality where they were originally found. Lizard Island is just off the coast near Cape Melville. It's a "mainland" island in that it's part of the mainland that's become separated, rather than a coral or sand island. H. australis ssp sanae is mainly centred on the Cape Melville area. Wind dispersed seeds, like Hoya, would easily reach the island and establish themselves. Or they might be there from when the island was attached to the mainland. But that's a good lead for identifying your plant. You can check against the description:

ssp. sanae- pubescence varies but always pubescent. this ssp. is more xerophytic than ssp tenuipes and ssp australis, but still viney. It has small quilted leaves that have recurved edges. Flowers May to July in Australia. It occurs on sand near the beach in Australia.

(I don't have access to the full description but someone else here might.)

All good to know and extremely interesting. There is only a slight pubescence on this Lizard Isle of mine, just under the leaves. Visible, but not like australis app. australis where you can really feel it. The top of the leaves are mostly glossy and smooth. So far, it is proving to be a compact grower for me. It is small yet, so that may change.

How is this one doing kim?

Very nicely, it grew a good bit and then I evicted it. :) I gave this one, a few of my others, and a pile of cuttings to a dear friend in Wisconsin. I actually miss it a tad though, will probably have to get a cutting off it eventually, hahahha. I sent him plants and cuttings largely because I enjoy sharing the addiction, and partly because I knew they would be in good hands in something of an auxillary Hoya bank. ;)

Can anyone identify this Australis variegata?

Pamfletcher33, I hope someone else will chime in, but that looks like hoya carnosa Krimson Princess and not an Australis to me. The leaves look too thick to be australis. But I could be wrong.

Hi there, how many years does it takes for a cuttting of hoya australis mrs G to bloom flower?

This is my myst hoya australis ?anyone kniws kniws about it more . t thanks

My Mystery Hoya..