Tag Archives: plant

Hoya, ‘wax plant’ or ‘porcelainflower’

Hoya,-succulent-plant Canarius | Friday July 29th, 2016 |

Hoya,-wax-plant

The name refers to the genus, Hoya, in honor of Thomas Hoy: gardener to the Duke of Northumberland at Syon House in Middlesex in the UK (eighteenth century). Although the species is also known as ‘wax plant’ or ‘porcelainflower’.

Hoyas are climbers, often with showy and exotic flowers, from the rain forests of Asia and Oceania. Most species need a dim light, but can also be grown as house plants.

They’re succulent plants that are very suitable for hanging baskets and trellises. They tolerate a few weeks of drought, but are sensitive to frost and cold.

This species includes more than 200 varieties of climbing plants of tropical origin (India, Malaysia, China, Australia…). The main species are: Hoya pauciflora, Hoya glabra, Hoya australis, etc., most of which we have on our online store of exotic plants: Canarius.

Hoyas are twining vines with showy exotic flowers

Hoyas are thin stemmed shrubs. Their leaves are perennial, fleshy, dark green and oval. Furthermore, they have rather small scented flowers, white or pink with a red centre, displayed in compact hemispherical umbels and with a waxy appearance (hence its popular name).

Usually, these succulent plants bloom from spring to summer and the flowers last for quite a long time on the plant.

Hoyas usually live in tropical forests, and specifically in the trees. Most species are easy to grow, as they can grow in disparate and diverse conditions. These species can also grow in spongy soil organic matter, sand or other drainage materials.

Succulent plants at Canarius: Hoya

At Canarius, we have numerous hoya species, we pack and ship them safely to anywhere in the world. See below some of our hoyas:

The commonly named ‘wax plant’ or ‘porcelainflower’ needs good light exposure, without receiving direct sunlight. They don’t resist cold, even less frost; the environment must be warm and the temperature no lower than 10 °C in winter.

Cordyline fruticosa ‘Lyon’s Black’, the boldest cultivar

Canarius | Wednesday December 30th, 2015 |

CORDYLINE-FRUTICOSA-CV

The genus Cordyline, belongs to the botanical family Asparagaceae, and it is native to Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia and S.E. Asia; also one species comes from South America.

In this case, we talk about the uncommon Cordyline fruticosa ‘Lyon’s Black’. This dark-leaved selection bears large sized, almost black leaves, with blueish wax. The whole plant is very erect and robust, 2 to 4,5 m tall. ‘Lyon’ s Black’ is one of the boldest cultivars. It was selected at Lyon Arboretum, in Honolulu, Hawaii. It typically blooms in Winter, with attractive sprays of pink-mauve flowers.

Its extremely dark foliage is a must in tropical gardens because it creates an incredible contrast with green backgrounds. The best colour is achieved in full sun.

As most large-sized Hawaiian cordylines, ‘Lyon’ s Black’ grows thick roots underground and is more resistant to wind, drought and cold than the smallest cultivars often sold in garden centres for indoor decoration. If its height is too much, it can be chopped in Spring at the desired height and it will soon sprout back from the cut stems.

About the exotic Cordylines

cordyline-fruticosa

Cordyline fruticosa is a marvelous foliage plant originating in the Pacific Islands. It adaptable to bright shade can grow indoors as a house plant. The wild type has green glossy leaves that are used throughout Polynesia to make food-wraps or the famous hula skirts. Many colourful cultivars have been selected for ornamental purposes.

Our Hawaiian selections will also be perfect in the tropical or subtropical garden. They can take cool temperatures but will be damaged or killed by frost. These “outdoor cultivars” bear leathery leaves and grow thick tuberous roots underground. They can even stand the cold winters of the coastal Mediterranean, especially if sheltered from the wind.

If you grow plants in full sun, you will obtain larger, robust specimens with thicker leaves. These plants will be much hardier to drought, wind and cold than plants grown in the shade.

After a few years, pot-grown Cordylines can start to become tall and leggy. If so, they can be kept low by pruning or air layering the shoots that become too tall. They will sprout new shoots from the base or from the cut.

The plant that we offer at Canarius is 20-40 cm tall and it is about 1 year old from cutting. It is grown in a pot of about 12-14 cm. Would you like to try a Cordyline fruticosa “Lyon’s Black”? Get it right now from us!

 

Withania somnifera, your Medicinal Plant for this Autumn

Canarius | Friday September 18th, 2015 |

withania-somnifera-ashwaganda Autumn is coming and, most of times, flu with it. In Canarius we have plants for health and, in particular, we have brought a new one to our online shop: Withania somniferacommonly known  as Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, poison gooseberry or winter cherry.

Withania somnifera is a shrub to small tree that grows well in Mediterranean to tropical conditions. This species is a short tender perennial shrub growing 35–75 cm (14–30 in) tall and its branches extend radially from a central stem. The flowers of an Aswagandha are small and green and the ripe fruit is orange-red.

(Withania_somnifera)

Nevertheless, this  plant grows well in Mediterranean to tropical conditions (as we have said before), it is cultivated in many of the driest regions of India. For instance, Mandsaur District of Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat or Rajasthan. Also, a Withania somnifera plant  can be found in Nepal or China.

Withania somnifera is an Indian medical plant used in Ayurvedic medicine with just too many good purposes. Such as treating arthritis, anxiety, trouble sleeping (insomnia), tumors, tuberculosis, asthma and so on.

Moreover, this plant is used as an “adaptogen”: natural substances produced by plants and herbs that provides special nutrients for reaching an optimal performance, both mental and physical.

Likewise, Ashwagandha is applied to the skin for treating wounds and, even, some people also use this plant for fertility problems in men and women. To sum up, Withania somnifera, known commonly as Ashwagandha (among others), is a medicinal plant with a lot of uses to improve our health day by day.

The name Ashwagandha is from the Sanskrit (an old Indian language) and it is a combination of the word ashva (meaning “horse”) and gandha (meaning “smell”). Furthermore, its root has a strong aroma. That’s why this species is described as “horse-like” (despiste how badly it sounds). Look for on our website Withania somnifera - Ashwagandha and discover how this species can help you daily!

Hoya australis, the perfect aromatic and indoor plant

Canarius | Friday May 22nd, 2015 |

Hoya_australis_On Canarius.com, we are aware of you are a real plant lover. That’s why we are going to write about a special plant today: Hoya australis. This is a lovely Australian native plant, commonly well-known as wax flower. Hoya australis is found on rainforest margins and rocky areas, with white fragrant blooms. Furthermore, it is easy to grow and somehow cold-tolerant, even though it does better if protected from frost. The five recognized subspecies of this plant are in Papua New Guinea, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales (and on canarius.com now). Although there are a great variety of other species of Hoya found in tropical areas too: China, India and Indonesia. Hoya australis produces fragrant flowers, above all in the evenings or at night, making them popular indoor species. That’s to say, a great house plant to keep inside, applying finishing touches with a natural environment. Likewise, the leaves are thick, succulent and almost round in shape, growing up to 9cm across. In this sense, this kind of Australian plant needs well-drained, but not necessarily especially fertile soil to grow in. They will tolerate a few weeks of drought but they are sensitive to frost and cold weather in general. Moreover, very little pruning is required, except on older plants which may need cutting back to rejuvenate the vine.

hoya-australis-leaf

In our online store we count on this kind of species: Hoya australis. In the same way, on Canarius.com, we offer a rooted plant (often sent bare-rooted). Anyway, if you want to learn more about we ship, visit our website and take a look to our pictures. Would you like to keep an aromatic essence at home? Would you like to decorate a living room, even a garden? You are in the right place! Buy Hoya australis with just a few clicks. In addition, we’ve got more subspecies of Hoya. Take a look!