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The Big Island of Hawaii has the Red Ohia as its official flower, it
is the blossom found from Ohia trees which is native to the island.
Red Ohia is also known as Ohia Lehua and it comes in yellow, orange
or white blossoms. These flowers are popularly used for leis.
Hawaiian people believe that Ohia Lehua blossoms are sacred to Pele,
the volcano goddess of Hawaii. According to the ancient myths of
Hawaii, Ohia Lehua causes rainfall when they are picked. They are
considered as the tears of the volcano goddess Pele.
Yellow Ilima is the designated
official flower to represent the Oahu islands. Sida fallax in
scientific terms, Yellow Ilima is often used to make leis as well.
The flower of Yellow Ilima resembles the hibiscus representing its
smaller version. It measures approximately an inch across and was
used by the early people of Hawaii to cure basic illnesses. Children
were given juice made from pressed Yellow Ilima flowers while it
gets eaten by pregnant women until childbirth.
photo below is flower of
white and purple
orchids of Hawaii by Oahu
wedding photographer
The Pink Lokelani or Rosa
damascene is the official flower that represents the island of Maui.
It is also known as the Pink Cottage Rose brought to the islands
during the 1800s. Pink Cottage Rose is popular among many gardeners
for its extraordinary beauty and fragrance. The Pink Lokelani or the
Pink Cottage Rose is the only non-native flower in Hawaii recognized
as the official flower of one of its islands.
Kauai’s official flower which
is the Mokihana or Pelea anisata is not a flower at all. It is a
plant that grows green berry which can only be found on the slopes
of the famous Mount Waialelae. Mokihana berries are usually woven
with maile strands, stringing them like beads. The hardy-green berry
of Kauai gives out the sweet smell of anise.
The designated official flower
for the islands of Molokai is the Aleurites moluccana otherwise
known for its more common name as the White Kukui Blossoms. The tiny
white flowers of the White Kukui Blossoms are also popularly used by
lei makers of the island.
Nihau’s official flower is
found among the rocky shoreline of the island, the White Pupu Shell.
The ‘yellow and orange air plant’ or Kaunaoa is the designated
official flower for the Lanai islands. The orange strands of the
flowers are twisted together by lei makers to form beautiful leis.
Even the uninhibited island of
Kahoolaw has the ‘Hinahina’ or Heliotropium anomalum as its own
official flower. It is a plant with silver-gray colors and the stems
and flowers of it are popularly used to make leis as well.
You can also find Birds of
Paradise in Hawaii. The plant is not indigenous to the island; it is
known to have originated from the regions of South Africa. The
orange and blue colors of the flower resembling an exotic bird which
is about to take flight gave the Birds of Paradise its name.
Plumeria is also one of the
many flowers that are found growing wild in Hawaii. These beautiful
flowers are usually used to make exotic looking leis. They come in
colorful shades of pink, yellow and white. These flowers are also
popularly used to decorate special occasions held on the islands
such as wedding ceremonies. With its beautiful bright-colored
blossoms, Plumeria is quite one of the most popular choices of
floral wedding decorations.
Tiare is one of the many
indigenous flowers of Hawaii.
The white blossom of Tiare flowers is related to the species of
Gardenia. It gives out sweet fragrances that inspire the many types
of floral perfumes, as well as the White Ginger. The white blossom
of the White Ginger is also used as based ingredients for many
floral perfumes for its floral scents. White Ginger Blossom is known
as the ‘awapuhi ula’ual’ in the Hawaiian language. It is commonly
found scattered on the wetland areas usually in forests. The White
Ginger Blossom plant thrives on wetter condition. These are all the
flowers you’ll get to explore once you visit the island paradise of
Hawaii.
One of the great things about
growing anthuriums is that they can grow in a very wide range of
soils, from the sandy to heavier clay soils, although clay is still
not the best environment for your anthuriums, and to ensure the best
growth, lean toward soils with less clay. When anthuriums are
planted, they have to be staked so that the plant has plenty of
support when it starts to grow. Anthuriums require soil with
excellent drainage, otherwise the roots will rot, as will the stems.
Anthuriums do especially well in soils that are highly organic, such
as being composed of mulched, semi-rotted wood, and coconut husks.
Anthuriums also require a lot of light, although not direct
sunlight, and removing dead leaves are a must for plant health. The
anthurium is also not a plant that handle drought well, but it is
also important not to over-water the plant. In the winter,
anthuriums require a short period of rest at a temperature of around
15 degrees Celsius, with much less water. This
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