Top Four Choices in Hawaiian Flowers for Mainland Gardens

Hawaiian flowers are beautiful and exotic. Few of us are lucky enough to get to live in Hawaii where these majestic beauties grown but you can incorporate some of Hawaii into your mainland garden and grow Hawaiian flowers of your very own without having to own a greenhouse or botanical garden of your own. The key is to select only those flowers which perform well in mainland climates which does limit the select somewhat. However, there are four popular selections for mainland landscapes which can be grown during the spring and summer in most venues, offering up beautiful foliage and blossoms certain to delight you.

 

You may be able to locate Hawaiian flowers from these top four choices at your local garden and landscape center or a specialty garden boutique. If not, you can order Hawaiian plants through catalogs or via the internet and have them shipped to your home for incorporation in to your garden.

 

• Hawaiian Ginger: Ornamental ginger from Hawaii produces flowers which are shaped like ice cream cones and waxy in appearance. Hawaiian Ginger is so easy to grow in the islands that these plants are often used for landscaping hedges. However, on the mainland they thrive as specimen plants and prefer high humidity and moderate temperatures. The best location in mainland gardens for Hawaiian Ginger is in an area which is partially shaded during the heat of the day. You can find gingers from Hawaii in varieties which produce red, pink or magenta flowers but the red variety is the most commonly available and most well-know in mainland garden circles. The foliage is very attractive, so even if you do not generate flowers, you'll still enjoy the plant very much. But with a little care and the right conditions, you can enjoy the waxy flowers which are long-lasting when left on the plant. They also last quite a while when cut and used in arrangements.

 

• Orchids: In Hawaii, orchids grow and bloom so easily that they require almost no care. This is because orchids are actually a form of "air plant", obtaining their moisture from the humidity in the air and the water which collects in the corners where tree branches meet. On the mainland, most any variety of orchids can be grown in clay pots of orchid growing media if proper conditions are provided. In the extreme Southern United States, orchids can be grown outdoors all year long except during those very rare freezing temperatures, as long as there is sufficient humidity. The Southwest, while warm enough in many cases, is often too dry to make outdoor orchid growing easy except for those with green thumbs and lots of dedication. Most other areas allow orchid growers to place orchids outdoors after freezing temperatures have passed. The magnificent blooms of even the most common orchid species of these often-seen Hawaiian flowers are well worth the trouble of growing these beauties indoors or outdoors, depending on your location. You may be able to locate an orchid grower in your area or orchids in your local garden center in season. You can also order via the internet and have specimens shipped to your home.

 

• Bird Of Paradise: Beautiful blossoms which are reminiscent of a crane's head and crest are the signature of these Hawaiian flowers.. The flowers are truly spectacular when several sets emerge from each of the green bracts edged in red or purple. The bracts are shaped much like boats. The flower petals are bright orange and there is an arrow-shaped "tongue" in the "crane's mouth" which is vivid blue. Some variations produce white and blue blossoms. If seeds are used to start a Bird of Paradise, it will not bloom for five to seven years even in optimal conditions, so it is best to purchase established specimens of these Hawaiian flowers. These flowers like full sun and can withstand summer heat but prefer cooler temperatures. They do require lots of humidity, provided either by nature or misting. Overwatering can be a problem, so be careful moisture levels. These plants can commonly be found from quality landscape center on the mainland.

 

• Pikake (Arabian Jasmine): Pikake is one of the Hawaiian flowers often used in leis. On the mainland, it is more often known as Arabian Jasmine. However, the plant is the same (Jasminum sambac), no matter what it is called. The blossoms are fragrant and can be used to create jasmine tea. A member of the olive family, it grows into a hedge of two to three feet in height when given the right conditions. There are several varieties of Pikake available. The largest blossoms are one and three-quarter inches in diameter while the smallest are about three quarter inch in diameter. Look for these Hawaiian flowers at your local nursery under the name of Arabian Jasmine.

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