Hoya Burtoniae Flower

Hoya Burtoniae Flower Plant, Grow & Care Guide 2023

The Hoya Burtoniae flower is rapidly gaining popularity as a must-have plant, and it’s not complex to gather why. Although a rare vining plant, this plant’s features exceed the expectations, you would expect from a houseplant.

Hoya Burtoniae’s unique characteristics and low maintenance requirements make it the perfect choice for beginner plant enthusiasts who want to add a rare and exotic touch to their plant collection.

Besides the attractive velvety leaves and sweet-scented flowers, Hoya Burtoniae will lighten any indoor and outdoor setting with its vining stems and other numerous features. However, you must first understand the proper care tips and know all about this priceless gem before acquiring one.

Here is a detailed post explaining the ins and outs of the Hoya Burtoniae flower and how to get the best from it.

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What is the Hoya Burtoniae Flower?

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Hoya Burtoniae flower is primarily sought after for its attractive foliage and sweet-scented flowers. Its full name is Hoya Species Affinity Burtoniae. It belongs to the family Dogbane, famous for its various flowering plants. 

The Hoya Burtoniae stands out in the Dogbane family as the ideal vining plant suitable for indoor settings. This is due to this plant’s low-maintenance, adaptability, and ability to grow from a pot or basket.

Still, considering it’s a tropical plant, Hoya Burtoniae is prone to pests and fungal infections if you don’t give it proper care. 

This evergreen vining plant is famous for its almond-shaped, velvety leaves and tiny reddish flowers with a tinge of yellow at the center. These flowers might also be dark pink or maroon but have a yellow center. A fast-growing epiphytic plant, the Hoya Burtoniae flower will stun indoor spaces when in a hanging basket. 

Unfortunately, many plant collectors and stores confuse or categorize Hoya Burtoniae flower as the Hoya Bilobata and Hoya DS-70.

However, this is a different plant from the two, and it’s vital to know Hoya Burtoniae’s history and features to understand its care needs and to avoid being susceptible to any identity crisis.

Origin and Classification

The Hoya Burtoniae flower is a tropical plant originating from the Philippines. The name Hoya Burtoniae flower is a short form for Hoya Species Affinity Burtoniae. Like its cousins in the Hoya genus, the Burtoniae flower is an evergreen, vining plant that grows epiphytically on trees in its native habitat. 

Therefore, it receives more light in the tropics, moderate rainfall, and sufficient humidity levels. Replicating these requirements ensure your Burtoniae flower will thrive as a household plant and reward you with its bloom. 

Features of Hoya Burtoniae Flower

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As mentioned earlier, this plant has an identity crisis, especially with the Hoya DS-70 and Hoya Bilobata. The key distinctive feature to watch on the Hoya Burtoniae flower that sets it apart from its cousin is the dark pink flowers with a yellow center.

Also, the Burtoniae flowers have spaces between them compared to the bunched-up flowers of the DS-70. Here is an extensive overview of the Hoya Burtoniae flower features: 

1. Leaves

The Hoya Burtoniae flower has dark green leaves with a velvety texture. The leaves are almond-shaped. Upon touching this plant’s leaves, you will feel a soft fuzz as the texture. Initially, the leaves are entirely brown, but as the plant matures, they turn green, eventually lustrous green and hairy for a mature plant.

Also, if you look keenly at this plant under high light or expose it to too much light, you will notice a reddish cast to the leaves or a dark ring on the edges. 

2. Flowers and Blooms

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Flowers are the outstanding features of this plant. Its remarkable ability to bloom even in winter makes it a go-to house plant. Even better, it doesn’t require much effort to blossom, but you must still be patient and replicate its native habitat. 

This plant’s flowers are dark red with a yellow center. Flowers are star-shaped and bloom from clusters that appear waxy. Only mature Hoya Burtonaie plants flower, so be patient with your plant. You can facilitate its bloom by providing sufficient light and fertilizer, though the latter isn’t paramount. 

Flowers emerge in clusters called umbels, each umbel carrying a maximum of 20 blooms. It may take three weeks for the flowers to appear. Mature Hoya Burtoniae plants have dark pink or reddish flowers with yellow centers and feel fuzzy due to the tiny hairs.

The most remarkable feature of this plant’s flowers is that they are aromatic, producing Carmon, butterscotch-like scent that’s highly concentrated in the mornings and evenings. 

3. Vines and Height

The Hoya Burtoniae flower can grow up to 6 feet long as an indoor plant. Of course, in the wild, it can surpass this height. This plant thrives when hung in a basket, allowing the vines to expand long and dense. 

4. Toxicity

Unlike most indoor plants, the  Hoya Burtonaie plant doesn’t threaten or harm cats, dogs, or humans. Still, it’s not entirely non-toxic since some individuals might find this plant’s sap irritating to the skin. Therefore, it’s best for people susceptible to allergies to wear gloves when handling this plant.  

Basic Care of Hoya Burtoniae Flower

Although the Hoya Burton isn’t a high-maintenance plant, giving it proper attention will ensure it thrives and blooms early. Here is a detailed care guide to this Philippian gem: 

1. Light Requirements

Similar to most hoya plants, the Burtoniae flower is a light-loving plant. Adequate bright and indirect light ensures this plant matures and blooms in no time. Hoya Burtoniae loves the natural sun. 

If possible, ensure your plant gets up to 7 hours of bright indirect light by placing it close to an east-facing window. The morning and evening sun help this plant to flourish. Still, please don’t subject your Burtoniae flower to the midday sun; else, it will scorch its leaves and lose the beautiful foliage. 

What we love with the Hoya Butroniae flower is that it communicates to you when light stressed. If you notice your plant’s leaves having a reddish or a somewhat dark ring appearing on the edges, you have exposed it to enough light, and it might be time to limit the sunlight. 

Surprisingly, some collectors and plant enthusiasts prefer the plant in this state, describing it as more stunning.

2. Water Requirement

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This plant’s leaves are closer to being succulent. This means it doesn’t need too much watering and is somehow drought resistant. However, the Burtoniae flower differs from most Hoya plants because its leaves aren’t very thick and therefore won’t hold water for long. 

Therefore, you must settle for a sufficient watering schedule to ensure your plant thrives. The favorable rule is watering it once a week in summer and once in three weeks during winter. 

Again, this plant can communicate when it’s water deprived. If the leaves appear soft and wrinkled, your plant isn’t having sufficient water and will soon droop and wilt. The good news is once you water it, it will return to its healthy nature promptly. 

Most importantly, don’t overwater the Hoya Burtoniae. It hates damp soil and will develop root rot if left sitting in waterlogged soil for long. 

3. Temperature

Being a tropical plant, the Hoya Burtoniae flower prefers moderate to warm weather. Therefore, temperatures ranging between  60 and 90 ℉ ( 15°C- 32℃ ) are ideal for this plant. 

If the temperatures are below or above these figures, your plant will have stunted growth and may take long before it blooms. The farther you deviate from the ideal temperatures, the slower your plant grows. Worse, the Burtoniae flower hates freezing conditions.

During winter, please place it in a warm or drafty spot to avoid the cold conditions.  

4. Humidity

The Hoya Burtoniae flower thrives under high humidity levels above 50% and not exceeding 70 %. In its natural habitat in the Philippines, this plant receives above-average humidity.

Therefore, it’s important to replicate these conditions by occasionally misting the plant, using a pebble tray, and grouping your plant collections to provide optimal conditions for your Hoya Burtoniae.

Extreme humidity levels make the plant susceptible to pests and disease. On the other hand, it can accommodate low humidity levels because of its succulent-like leaves. 

5. Soil Requirement

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When in a pot, Burtoniae flower thrives when grown in a well-drained potting mix. This Is because the plant dislikes damp soil and well-draining soil allows excess water to drain fast, meaning the roots won’t sit in water-logged soil.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you must plant your Hoya Burtoniae flower in the fast-draining sandy soil. If the soil drains rapidly, your plant won’t absorb any moisture.

Therefore, settle for an aroid mix containing perlite, peat moss, and composted organic matter. You can add orchid bark to your soil mix to maintain a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH. 

6. Fertilizer Requirement

The most adorable feature of this plant is that it can thrive and bloom without you having to feed it with artificial fertilizer. When grown in a suitable aroid mix containing organic matter, worry less about having to fertilize this plant.

However, if you want to hasten its blooming time, you can use a general-purpose fertilizer sparingly once a month. Ensure you dilute the fertilizer to half the strength. Most importantly, only feed the Burtoniae flower during summer and spring when it’s actively growing. 

7. Potting and Repotting

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As outlined earlier, the Hoya Burtoniae flower best thrives when hung in a basket. Initially plant it in a small pot that sufficiently drains water. Since the plant likes a snug pot, it may take a while before you repot it. Mostly it depends on how fast your plant grows but preferably, repot your Hoya after two years.

When repotting, it’s best to change the soil mix to allow the roots to fresher with more airflow. Also, repot this plant during its growing seasons when there is plenty of sunlight.

8. Pruning

Although it’s a relatively slow grower at first, once it gains momentum, the Burtoniae flower will surprise you with how thick, long and dense it becomes. As such, you might find it necessary to trim your plant to maintain a perfect shape.

Still, it’s vital to be cautious with this step and avoid cutting off the peduncles. If you remove the peduncles, your plant won’t grow from the stalk and won’t bloom. So, be careful when pruning the Hoya Burtoniae flower by eliminating dead leaves and trimming the main stem above the leaf and bud. 

How to Propagate Hoya Burtoniae Flower

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Propagating Hoya plants is relatively straightforward. It’s the same for the Burtoniae flower. We recommend propagating it via stem cuttings as illustrated below: 

  1. Locate a healthy stem with more than three leaves and take a 4 to 6-inch stem cutting. 
  2. Eliminate the lower leaves to expose the nodes. New roots develop from these nodes, so ensure your cutting has more than one node. 
  3. Then put your cutting in a water-filled container where the nodes are underwater. Ensure the leaves don’t get wet since they will rot during propagation. 
  4. Place your container in a bright spot with sufficient humidity to facilitate the growth of the cuttings. 
  5. Small white roots might begin to appear in one week. Mature roots develop after five weeks. 
  6. Once the roots grow up to 2 inches, plant them in a small pot filled with well-aerated soil. 

There you go. Pretty easy, right? Remember to propagate your Burtoniae flower during the summer or spring when there is adequate light

Common Problems Caring For Hoya Burtoniae Flower

If you neglect your Burtoniae flower, don’t be surprised if you encounter the following issues: 

1. Pests

Your plant can be attacked by spider mites, thrips, scale, and mealybugs. Mealybugs love this plant because of its succulent-like leaves. However, if you properly care for your plant and occasionally clean it, pests and mealybugs will be far-fetched.

And if these insects become a menace to your plant, use neem oil and relevant insecticidal soaps to treat the plant. 

2. Yellowing Leaves

If your Burtonie flower has yellow leaves, it signifies excess water. Remember, this plant hates damp soil, and pot it in a well-draining potting mix.  

3. Stunted or No Growth

Sudden temperature changes can make your plant dormant, and growth will stop for weeks. As such, ensure you provide your plant with the ideal requirements, as discussed in this post.

4. Drooping Leaves

Drooping leaves for Hoya plants is a sign of water stress. If you notice your hoya plant droop leaves before fully mature, it’s best to examine your watering schedule to handle these swings.

Outro

Now that you have the proper care tips and all details of the Hoya Burtoniae flower, there should be no other reason restricting you from acquiring this Philippian jewel. Remember to replicate its tropical environment to get the best from this plant.

It will reward you with its lustrous foliage and sweet-scented flowers to brighten any indoor setting. Allow this plant to hang in a basket for the vines to expand long and dense, transforming your house into a beautiful jungle.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hoya Burtoniae Flower Similar to Hoya Bilobata?

No. These are entirely different plants. However, many people are susceptible to identity crises due to both plants’ similarities. In addition, many stores label and sell the plant as one. Therefore you must pay attention to detail.

First and foremost, Hoya Bilobata leaves are smaller and roundish. Also, H. Bilobata has more tiny flowers than the Burtonie flower, rich in pink color compared to Hoya Burtoniae’s reddish blooms.

What Does Hoya Burtoniae Flower Smell like?

Hoya Burtoniae blooms produce a sweet-smelling scent similar to Carmon, butterscotch. The smell is highly concentrated in the morning and evening.

How Rare is the Hoya Burtoniae Flower?

Burtoniae flower is a rare species of Hoya plants. Therefore, you won’t find this gem in several stores, and it’s best to be careful not to acquire other Hoya species such as Hoya Bilobata and Hoya DS-70, thinking it’s a Burtoniae flower.

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