Hoya australis ‘Lisa’

Origin of Hoya australis ‘Lisa’

‘Lisa’ is a variegated sport of Hoya australis subsp. tenuipes, and the cultivar name was established in 2007. It may have been selected in Thailand. The wider species occurs from northern Borneo and Sulawesi through New Guinea and Australia into the south-western Pacific, including seasonally dry tropical habitats.

Care for waxy-leaved epiphytes

• Light and colour: Choose a bright position with harsh afternoon sun filtered. The pale centre contains less chlorophyll and can scorch against hot glass.
• New foliage: Pink colour on young pale sections is normal and fades as the leaf hardens. Remove only fully green reverted runners.
• Water and roots: Once the upper mix is dry, soak the root ball fully and drain it. Slower variegated roots are less forgiving of a cold saturated centre.
• Temperature and airflow: Keep the plant away from radiators, hot vents and cold glass. Warm conditions without sudden temperature changes help variegated leaves expand cleanly.
• Feeding: Feed Hoya ‘Lisa’ lightly after watering while a new leaf or side shoot is forming. Pause when no new growth is visible or the root ball dries more slowly.

Common issues with Hoya australis ‘Lisa’

• New growth loses the expected pale centre or margin: A bud with a different balance of green and pale tissue has taken over the runner. Keep any balanced growth. If two or three leaves remain all green or almost all pale, cut the runner back to the last node that produced a balanced amount of green and pale tissue.
• Bright tissue tears or browns during leaf expansion: The plant was pushed into stronger light before the new leaf hardened. Protect the pale tissue from hot glass and avoid heavy feeding while the roots recover. Keep a firm dry leaf; remove it only if the patch becomes wet, soft or rapidly larger.
• Distorted new leaves and sticky nodes: The distorted tip may be under attack from sap-feeding insects or mites. Separate the plant and inspect soft growth and hidden leaf surfaces under magnification. Rinse off visible pests, patch-test insecticidal soap, and follow its label for repeat timing; stop if the pale tissue develops marks.
• Wide gaps and smaller leaves appear on new growth: The growing tip is too far from the window, or wet roots are slowing the vine. Move the tip into brighter filtered light and check the centre of the pot before watering. New growth should form firmer leaves with shorter spaces between them.

Hoya australis ‘Lisa’ is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

About the name Hoya australis

Hoya honours the English gardener Thomas Hoy. The epithet australis is Latin for southern and refers to the species range.

Robert Brown established the genus Hoya in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 459.

James Traill first described Hoya australis in 1830 in Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London, volume 7, page 28; Robert Brown had proposed the name.