Hoya latifolia (huge leaves!)

Hoya latifolia (giant leaves!) is the species with broad, thick, dark green foliage and clearly defined palmate veins. The epithet latifolia means broad-leaved; the title highlights this characteristic of the species, not a guaranteed size for young stock. It has a vining growth habit. Under good growing conditions, umbels of small, star-shaped, cream-pink flowers may appear. The flowers are fragrant. Flowering depends on the plant’s maturity and growing conditions.

Foliage. The foliage in this lot is green, oval-elliptic, thick, with an acuminate tip and raised palmate veins on the upper surface. It has no silver splash and no edge or central variegation. Mature leaves can become very broad; a young import does not yet show the species’ maximum size.

Flowers and fragrance. The species’ flowers are small, star-shaped, and grouped in umbels. The gallery shows cream-pink umbels with an orange-pink corona. Cultivation sources describe them as pale green, yellow, or pink; red flowers are not promised. They are fragrant; we do not specify a single fragrance note. Flowering depends on the plant’s maturity and growing conditions.

Identity. The accepted name is Hoya latifolia G.Don, published in 1837. Its native range extends from Myanmar to western Malesia (Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Malaya, and Thailand). The Philippines are not part of the accepted range. It circulates as Hoya macrophylla; Hoya macrophylla Wight is an illegitimate homonym of this species, while Hoya macrophylla Blume is a different name. The title remains unchanged.

Stock specimens have leaves with defects.

Substrate: use an airy, well-drained mix suitable for epiphytic species. We recommend the professional substrate for Hoya and Anthurium - SG Mix.

For complete recommendations on light, watering, substrate, fertilizing, propagation, and flowering, read the complete Hoya care guide.