Hawaiian flowers are often used to make leis.
The tropical environment of the Hawaiian Islands supports a number of plants that are traditionally associated with Hawaii. Some of these have been used in leis, the floral welcome mat of the islands. Other tropical flowers show themselves off in the landscape horticulture of the state. A few of these plants are particularly dramatic, and lend a romantic flair to the floral persona of Hawaii. Does this Spark an idea?
Plumeria
Plumeria have a strong, sweet scent.
Plumeria flowers, also known as frangipani, grow on short trees with a wide canopy. The flowers produce five petals that vary in color; most plumeria blooms consist of 2 or more hues or dark and light values of the same color. The shapes of the petals vary from long and slender to almost round. The flower is intensely scented and is often used in leis--plumeria petals are threaded through their center, or sometimes they can be sewn across their base.
Anthurium
Anthurium features a highly recognizable spike, or spadix, in its center.
The anthurium flower is instantly recognizable by its large, waxy, heart- or tulip-shaped blooms and long spikes, or spadix, that grow from the cleft of the heart shape or base of the tulip shape. The colorful part of the anthurium is not a petal but a leaf, of sorts, called a spathe. Anthurium range from brilliant red to purple to pastels to pure white, and can sport more than one color in a single bloom.
Dendrobium Orchid
Dendrobium orchids have medicinal qualities.
The dendrobium orchid grows on tall stems, with flowers produced from nodes on the stems. One reason dendrobiums do so well in a tropical environment is that the stems hold water, which nourishes the plants during dry conditions. These orchids benefit from being misted daily or by having their environment dampened so that they absorb moisture from their surroundings. Not only are these plants beautiful, but they also have medicinal uses. In traditional Chinese medicine, dendrobium is used to replace fluids in the body and to encourage beautiful skin, according to Naturopathy Digest.
Ginger
Ginger plants are valued for medicinal purposes and for their scent.
The ginger plant offers more than exotically scented flowers--it's also edible, and is sometimes consumed in the form of a tea for health benefits. The petals of the ginger plant can vary widely in shape and size, but the most common ginger plant has long, slender leaves and long petal clusters that grow at the end of the stem. Ginger flowers come in many colors including red, purple, orange, pink and yellow.
Bird of Paradise
Bird of paradise plants are elegant.
Stately and elegant, the bird of paradise plant stands tall like a tropical heron with a crown of blue and golden plumes. It also gets its nickname, the crane flower, from its appearance. The plant grows to an average height of 4 or 5 feet with 1 or more flowers growing on a single stalk. The orange portions are sepals. The stamen and style, the male and female parts of the plant, lie in the blue petals.
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