The people behind Hoya names

Phil Achleman is the creator of Names Have Roots, a Hoya history podcast from Gathering Moss. The series follows the lives of the collectors, botanists and gardeners associated with Hoya names, introducing listeners to the people behind familiar plant labels.^[1]

Its episodes include stories about Thomas Hoy, Arthur Francis George Kerr, Mary and Joseph Clemens, and York Meredith. These historical narratives offer starting points for further reading about how plants were collected, described and named.^[1]

A portrait of Christine Burton

Achleman’s Christine Burton: An Unfinished Portrait was published on 20 October 2026 as episode 6. It explores Christine M. Burton’s work as editor of The Hoyan, the later movement of her writing online, and questions left open by the surviving records.^[2]

The episode is one route into Burton’s story. Her own newsletters and the original botanical publications remain the sources to consult when checking a particular historical or identification claim. Hoya Library’s Burton profile links her documented writing and subsequent taxonomic research.

Gathering Moss

The podcast identifies itself as a Gathering Moss production. The business’s own introduction names Phil among the Achlemans behind its plant and plant-care work.^[3]

Sources and listening

1. Achleman, Phil. Names Have Roots. Creator-supplied series description and episode listings on Apple Podcasts. Checked 25 October 2026.
2. Achleman, Phil (2026). Christine Burton: An Unfinished Portrait. Names Have Roots, season 1, episode 6, 20 October; listed length 32 minutes. Episode description and chapter list.
3. Gathering Moss. Who We Are. Business introduction; checked 25 October 2026.