Unlike Hoya bella or carnosa, Hoya calycina ‘Stargazer’ has star shaped flowers with striking red centres. The leaves are also different: large, heart shaped, succulent and conspicuously covered with grey hairs. The fragrant flowers hang in large clusters on a compact arch. The overall look is exotic. Another unusual feature is that the flower can bloom several times a year in the same cluster, and for three to four weeks. The grower has named this houseplant after the popular cut lily ‘Stargazer’ because of the similarity in fragrance and colour.

The first sales of Hoya calycina ‘Stargazer’ were in 2005. In 2006, up to the end of week 42, no less than 27,500 plants had been sold via the Dutch auctions. This season supply is expected to rise to 4,000 plants per week in a bid to meet the growing demand. Thanks to the ‘Stargazer’ it looks as though the small but special Hoya product group will be given new impetus.

Hoya calycina ‘Stargazer’ (vbn code 26773) is supplied to the Dutch auctions in a 12 cm pot between weeks 46 and week 9. The plant height is around 55 cm. The plant is sorted by the number of flower clusters: 2 to 3 clusters, 4 to 5 clusters or more than 6 clusters. The plant should be handled with care to avoid leaf breaks.

Pot plant market success: Successful market acceptance of new pot plant.