Hawaiian tropical flowers bring an exotic and often fragrant beauty to your home and garden. Their bright colors and unusual foliage can be intimating at first for people who want to purchase these plants but may not know how to care for them. This article will highlight some of the most popular varieties of Hawaiian tropical flowers, where to purchase them, and how to care as garden plants or as indoor plants.
Hibiscus
There are hundreds of different varieties of Hawaiian tropical flowers available today. Many people are familiar with the cheerful hibiscus which is Hawaii’s state flower according to Wikipedia. The hibiscus is a popular choice for Hawaiian tropical flower themed floral arrangements due to the large diversity of flower color and flower size.
Hibiscus can be grown in temperate climates as an ornamental garden plant. Check with your local nursery in late spring or early summer to see if they carry any hibiscus plants. You can find both annual and perennial varieties. Be sure to read the care instructions carefully as you will most likely need to protect these plants from frost.
According to this hibiscus website, you can grow these beautiful Hawaiian tropical plants in cold regions. Look for tropical hibiscus with blooms of salmon, yellow, orange or peach with glossy green leaves. These plants can be hardy to zone 5 with little winter protection. If you live in an extremely cold climate, you may want to consider leaving them in pots and bringing them indoors if your temperatures regularly reach 45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower each night. These plants will die down to the ground each year.
Orchids
Orchids come in many different sizes and colors with the most popular variety being the Phalaenopsis. You can often find this Hawaiian tropical flower in little pots in your local florist or grocery store. These plants do very well as potted indoor plants in most locations, according to Hawaii Orchids. Place them in a location in your home or office that receives indirect sunlight and be sure to keep the plant moist. Remember, orchids are from the tropical regions and do require frequent watering. Try placing your potted plant on a small tray containing slightly wet pebbles to retain moisture.
The American Orchid Society has an extensive online database containing information ranging from propagating orchids to basic beginner how-tos. This website will also give you an understanding of how diverse this Hawaiian tropical plant can be with nearly 20,000 species growing all around the world. You can find tiny, thumble-sized orchids as well as large tree-like orchids. Not every orchid comes from the tropical regions of the world so you can find varieties that do well in cooler climates.
Orchids can also be used in floral arrangements as an accent piece or the center flower. These flowers are very popular in wedding and special occasion bouquets.
Anthurium
Although anthuriums are not native to Hawaii, they are still considered to be a popular Hawaiian tropical flower in floral arrangements. The flower does ship out from Hawaii with many different colors and sizes available.
Anthuriums are popular tropical flowers to use in arrangements because they have a long lasting vase life and can accent any Hawaiian tropical theme.
The most popular Anthurium, the flamingo flowers, can be grown as houseplants. Since they are rainforest plants, you’ll want to keep them adequately watered and protected from cold temperatures. If your climate dips lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll probably want to bring them inside or place them in a greenhouse. Visit Hawaii Tropicals for some more information on this popular plant.
Plumeria
Plumeria may be one of the best known Hawaiian floral plants because their beautiful fragrance reminds many people of a visit to the islands.
According to Grow Hawaii, Plumeria’s can be grown at home or in the garden. However, they do best in warm and sunny locations between 60 and 90 degrees Farenheit. If you live in colder climates, consider using them in a grow window or greenhouse.
These fragrant flowers are often used to make a Hawaiian flower lei. The plumeria petals are strung together to from a gorgeous flower necklace. You can also use them to accent floral arrangements, but be careful that the strong fragrance may be too much for some people.
There are many different beautiful and colorful varieties of Hawaiian tropical flowers to use as home accents or garden accents. Since they are tropical plants, you may find them to be a bit pricier than plants native to your area. However, if you are craving a bright, cheerful flower in your home, office, greenhouse, or garden, then consider purchasing a Hawaiian tropical plant to see if it works for you. Be sure to research any tropical plant that you choose to grow outside as many are sensitive to temperature and humidity.
Resources and Places to Buy Hawaiian Tropical Flowers Online:
Wikipedia
Tropical Hibiscus
Hawaii Orchids
Orchid Web
Hawaii Tropics
