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Dig This

Friday, April 14, 2000

By Stephanie Kendrick

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By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
The ohai ali'i will grow in many types of soil and produces bright
red, orange or yellow flowers that will hold up about 2 days in a lei.

Lei materials
easy to grow

Lei Day is a simply beautiful celebration of Hawaii's natural majesty. From elementary school contests to the city-sponsored competition, lei makers of all ages get a chance to show their stuff.

The haku lei, in which material is mounted on a backing rather than strung, is always a popular choice among lei makers, perhaps because of the endless possibilities it presents.

Foraging for materials can be time consuming and damaging to native plants in the wild, but the home gardener can easily grow many plants suitable to the haku lei, according to Bea Sailer, a master gardener and volunteer with the Oahu Urban Garden Ohana.

By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
The leaves, flowers and fruits of the pohinahina can all be
used in haku lei, and the hardy plant is easy to grow.

Sailor helps maintain the Pearl City Urban Garden Center, teach classes and answer questions from gardeners.

She is teaching a haku and ti lei making class for beginners tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

"We do recommend that lei makers grow their own lei flowers instead of going into the mountains and picking the native plants," she said. "This is to protect the environment."

She recommended the following half-dozen plants as a good start for gardeners who want to have lei material on hand.

Grown for flowers

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.) shrubs can reach heights of 10-15 feet, but respond well to pruning. Though all bougainvillea flowers are white, the enormous variety of color in the surrounding bracts make it a popular choice in haku lei. Bougainvillea last 1-3 days in a fresh lei and dries well. The sun-loving plant is drought tolerant; in fact, too much water or fertilizer will hamper flowering. Root cuttings in well-drained potting mix.

Bozu, or globe amaranth, (Gomphrena globosa) is an herbaceous annual with ball shaped blossoms in violet, pink, white, red or purple that last a week in a lei. They prefer full sun, but require watering; and they appreciate compost and fertilizer. To propagate, soak seeds in water overnight and sow on vermiculite/perlite without covering.

By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
A sunny, well-drained spot is ideal for the dwarf crown flower.

Dwarf crown flower (Calotropis procera) produces white or lavender blooms that are smaller and slightly different in structure than those on the regular crown flower plant. Its blossoms will last 2-3 days in a lei. The shrub likes a sunny, dry environment and must have well-drained soil. Use a slow-release fertilizer. To propagate, separate seeds from ripe pods and sow on vermiculite/perlite with a light covering of same. Keep moist and transplant seedlings to pots filled with equal parts peat moss and vermiculite/perlite.

Ohai ali'i (Caesalpinia pulcherrima and C. pulcherrima flava) is a shrub or small tree with red, orange or yellow flowers that have a lei life of about two days. The plant tolerates wind, drought and sea salt; prefers full sun at maturity; and will grow in many soil types, as long as it gets good drainage. To propagate, soak seeds in warm water overnight then sow in equal parts potting mix and vermiculite/perlite. Germination should take place in 1-2 weeks. After true leaves appear, transplant seedlings to 4-inch pots filled with equal parts peat moss and vermiculite/perlite.

Grown for foliage

Palapalai (Microlepia strigosa) is a spreading type of fern that grows to a height of 2-5 feet with a spread of 3-5 feet. Grows best in shade but will grow in full sun with heavy watering. Prefers compost and manure to chemical fertilizers. Palapalai is propagated by rhizomes. Plant clumps should be divided every few years to produce more ferns.

Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia) is a shrub with grey/silver leaves. It grows to a height of 2-4 feet with a spread of 3-6 feet. Its small purple flowers and fruits also can be used in haku lei. Pohinahina will grow in sun to partial shade and tolerates wind, drought and sea salt. To propagate the shrub, place several branch tips in a deep pot of vermiculite/perlite using a mild rooting hormone. Planting medium should drain well and be kept moist. Transplant seedlings to well-drained potting mix.

"Those are things that home gardeners can easily grow," said Sailor. "We want to propagate these at home so they'll have them readily available."

Sailor pointed out the list is by no means meant to limit the gardener turned lei maker.

"Any small flower or parts of a flower and leaves can be used to make a lei. Be creative and experiment with interesting combinations," she said.

Gardening Calendar in Do It Electric!

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Stephanie Kendrick's gardening column runs Fridays in Today.
You can write her at the Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802
or email skendrick@starbulletin.com