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Dig This
Friday, June 9, 2000
By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Michael Miyashiro sings the praises of the Adenium, or desert
rose, a drought-tolerant plant that produces beautiful flowers.
SUMMER hit early and hard this year, and the board of water supply has raised the specter of water restrictions. Blooms thrive
in summer heatBut not all plants are wilting in the face of such daunting prospects.
"Adeniums are just laughing at all the other plants that are wilting right now," said Michael Miyashiro, president of the Cactus and Succulent Society of Hawaii and owner of Rainforest florist in Ward Warehouse.
The Adenium, also known as the desert rose, has evolved into a more attractive plant in recent years through selective breeding, which has produced bushier varieties of the succulent with vibrant blooms in every shade from white to dark red. And more successful propagation has brought down its price, said Miyashiro.
"Everybody loves desert rose, it's the newest fad," he said. And the summer weather is bound to boost popularity further.
HAWAII PLANT EXPO
When: June 24
Visit Miyashiro's Web site on Adenium culture: Learn more online
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/AdeniumsofHawaii
"They love the heat, they love the long days," said Miyashiro.
Hawaii's first Adenium show takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 24 at Ward Warehouse in conjunction with the Hawaii Plant Expo. There will be Adenium sales and demonstrations on how to care for the plants.
"We'll have a lot of newer varieties you can't get anywhere else," said Miyashiro.
Expect to spend $20 to $25 for a 6-inch flowering Adenium, and $25to $100 for specialty varieties. But keep in mind, a $50 plant at the June 24 sale would have sold for as much as $500 a few years ago, said Miyashiro. Propagation techniques have improved since then, increasing the supply.
The Hawaii Plant Expo is the first time a diverse group of garden societies has come together for a show.
"What this is basically is a gathering of the various plant societies on Oahu under one roof to show the public their specialties," said Miyashiro, the event's creator.
"I've been trying to put something together like this for a long time," he said. "We're hoping this will be an annual event."
At first other clubs were hesitant about participating in a show organized by the Cactus and Succulent Society, but the way he envisions the event working, each year another club would take the lead and pick the focus of the show, he said.
According to Carol Ann Ellett, secretary of the Hawaii Bromeliad Society, Miyashiro has done a great job in organizing the event.
"We think it's really a terrific idea. People in Hawaii don't know of the existence of these societies or how to get ahold of them."Ellett will be demonstrating techniques for attaching the bromeliad tillandsia to driftwood and grape vine wreaths. Tillandsia is sometimes called the air plant, said Ellett. "All you have to do to keep them alive is spray them with water for awhile."
Many varieties of bromeliad will be brought out to the show. "Some beautiful ones, some weird ones. They come in all shapes and sizes, that's what so beautiful about them," she said.
Among the other clubs committed to participating so far are the Hawaii Anthurium Society; Tai Hei Kai Bonsai Study Group; University of Hawaii Urban Gardens, which will feature new plant varieties; Hawaii Tropical Cutflowers and Foliage Growers; and the African Violet Society of Hawaii. The Cactus and Succulent Society will demonstrate repotting techniques for spiny plants.
All the participating clubs will be doing their own demonstrations and will have membership information available.
Gardening Calendar in Do It Electric!
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
