![Flower of Hoya serpens. Flower of Hoya serpens.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8uBL98BHtv8nbm1wqAGWXHOM3irmKAWnfyCY41Fngs5D6YYyMZLGPygSr8-TXF5LqgNf5_KXlPg6x-qXOovNDxE9XCvHKHbtxmKaWshDjAYlCKedtOcOghvnwQY44g5BdQ8Loo21mReX/s640/hoya_serpens_2016.06.07_b.jpg) |
Flower of Hoya serpens. |
Not a wild flower at all, at least not in the UK, but I think Hoya flowers are wonderful. This one, Hoya serpens, is an unassuming trailing plant with small, rather fleshy round green leaves.
![Flower cluster of Hoya serpens, in bud. Flower cluster of Hoya serpens, in bud.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XePM_NHMnmp8tWgy-0h1E-k-M0YFqD11SThDS7grOIWR-PrRgYXPyL67ODd8tjs4jSoqnrCOoUY07kVdPxNp94GKEZMrLrrlx5IZLWV0Av5snqx9RIIWAUMrXMbI9Na_mP37MAV6jfPP/s640/hoya_serpens_2016.06.03_b.jpg) |
Flower cluster of Hoya serpens, in bud. |
This cluster of buds is 3 cm across. The individual flowers are less than a centimetre.
![Flower cluster of Hoya serpens, in bud. Flower cluster of Hoya serpens, in bud.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNQGxeAeA-TWUZAH6G0awegxoA38CAvxcvticWc1GY70pkz8FBGlWXw8CWeCBgApKClVkmyJ_tp790OW2uacOX4gmBYYuYtuDXm5X_lXc_qzFpGJD7AENYaQAx24T746Pq4XzyqcSjnMx/s640/hoya_serpens_2016.06.03_a.jpg) |
Flower cluster of Hoya serpens, in bud. |
The buds don't give any clue about what is coming.
![Flower cluster of Hoya serpens. Flower cluster of Hoya serpens.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87iN5woIgKPwXpL0mtpoY6Cg59SSPZXGz6T0qsGJuTXiW82aGU6PJrOta3-DEpFPudvovtFgTxjA7nZWk7yMtL6XAsFWU4h3kT-U2bR3LVIXgF-xHZ1zQ8xkw-ooPO9aujb6MU5I-6rtj/s640/hoya_serpens_2016.06.07_a.jpg) |
Flower cluster of Hoya serpens. |
But it's this! They have a very floral scent which is apparent in the early morning. Some species are much more strongly and crudely scented. I have a Hoya curtisii which has a similar habit of growth but prettier leaves, and when that flowered my first thought was that I must have spilled a whole container of washing-up liquid.
This is a fascinating plant!
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