Hoya sulawesiana (Albomarginata)

Unrooted cutting of Hoya sulawesiana (Albomarginata).
One node, one or two leaves.

Hoya sulawesiana (Albomarginata) is an outer-variegated form of Hoya sulawesiana, a relatively recently described Hoya species native to Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The species develops elongated, lance-shaped to elliptic leaves that can become quite substantial as the plant matures. In the Albomarginata form, the green center is bordered by irregular cream to pale yellow variegation along the outer edges of the leaf. The width and placement of the pale margins can vary considerably from leaf to leaf.

Hoya sulawesiana itself has an interesting recent history. Photographs of unidentified Hoya material from Sulawesi began circulating among Indonesian growers in 2018. After the original source material was traced and studied botanically, Sri Rahayu and Michele Rodda formally described Hoya sulawesiana as a new species in 2020.

The original type material came from Mamuju in West Sulawesi, where the plant had been collected at approximately 100 meters elevation. Additional wild material has also been documented from South Sulawesi.

The species produces unusual rounded flower clusters with densely hairy corollas. The flowers have a distinctly fuzzy appearance, one of the characteristics that helped distinguish Hoya sulawesiana during its botanical description.

Botanical name: Hoya sulawesiana S.Rahayu & Rodda
Form: Albomarginata / Outer Variegated
Native range of species: Sulawesi, Indonesia
Type locality: Mamuju, West Sulawesi
First published: 2020
Notable features: Elongated foliage with cream-to-yellow marginal variegation and unusual densely hairy flowers

Please note that the width, placement, and amount of marginal variegation can vary naturally from leaf to leaf, and the appearance of future growth cannot be guaranteed.

A note about this plant: Species-level botanical and historical information above is based on the original published description and current taxonomic records. Information concerning the Albomarginata form and its horticultural naming was gathered from publicly available online sources. We have not found original mutation, breeder, or provenance documentation establishing where or by whom this variegated selection originated and cannot independently confirm or deny those details.