Hoya australis R.Br. ex J.Traill

Frost tender, vigorous, twining, succulent climber with broadly elliptic, fleshy leaves, densely hairy beneath, and umbels, to 6cm across, of 12-40, star-shaped, fragrant white flowers, to 4cm across, with a red spot at the base of each petal and red coronas.  To 10m.  [RHSE, FNSW, Blomberry].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Cultivated in Europe since 1820.  [Don].  ‘A handsome, free-growing species of Hoya, first detected a century ago by Sir Joseph Banks during Captain Cook’s voyage on the Endeavour River in Queensland, and afterwards collected by Brown, Backhouse, Mueller, and others, at Moreton Bay, Rockhampton, the Clarence River, and elsewhere in New South Wales and Queensland.  It is also a native of the Fiji and Samoan groups.  It was introduced into this country by the late James Backhouse, who collected it on the banks of the Brisbane, and who sent flowering specimens to Kew in 1863.  The specimen from which the accompanying drawing was made, was presented to the Royal Gardens by George Macleay, Esq., in 1864.  It flowers annually in the month of October, and diffuses a rich honeysuckle-like scent.’  [BM t.5820/1870].

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T.560/1850].  Native to the north coast of NSW and of Queensland.  Possibly collected in the wild by Bidwill, Macarthur or King or obtained from contacts at Moreton Bay.

Notes

Published Feb 26, 2009 - 03:21 PM | Last updated Jul 14, 2010 - 02:49 PM


Illustrated are the elliptic, fleshy leaves and umbels of star-shaped white flowers.  Curtis's Botanic Magazine t.5820, 1870.

Hoya australis R.Br. ex J.Traill | BM t.5820/1870 | BHL

More details about Hoya australis R.Br. ex J.Traill
Family Asclepiadaceae
Category
Region of origin

Eastern Australia

Synonyms
  • Hoya dalrympliana Muell.
  • Hoya darwinii Hort.
Common Name

Wax flower, Native Hoya

Name in the Camden Park Record

Hoya australis 

Confidence level high