Hawaii Gardens: Gentle watering coaxes ohia to grow and thrive

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on September 15, 2018
• Updated on September 16, 2018 at 8:42 am

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on September 15, 2018
• Updated on September 16, 2018 at 8:42 am

Ohia lehua can be grown from cuttings, air layers or seeds. Starting with seeds is the easiest and most fun way. You don’t need special propagation mist boxes or rooting hormones, just patience and daily gentle watering. Read More

Mango varieties grow in range of climates

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on August 18, 2018
• Updated on August 19, 2018 at 11:46 am

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on August 18, 2018
• Updated on August 19, 2018 at 11:46 am

Ripe mangoes serve as a sign of summer joy in Hawaii. Read More

Desert rose adds pop of color to garden, lanai

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on July 14, 2018
• Updated on July 15, 2018 at 7:04 am

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on July 14, 2018
• Updated on July 15, 2018 at 7:04 am

The Adenium — better known as the desert rose — is related to the plumeria, evident by the look of its blossoms and its milky sap. Read More

Resilient, xeric trees marked by golden blooms

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on June 17, 2018
• Updated on June 16, 2018 at 5:59 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on June 17, 2018
• Updated on June 16, 2018 at 5:59 pm

Gold trees were brought to Hawaii from tropical regions of South America and some were planted in Foster Botanical Garden. Read More

Silvery trees sprout from interesting history

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on May 20, 2018
• Updated on May 22, 2018 at 9:22 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on May 20, 2018
• Updated on May 22, 2018 at 9:22 pm

Silver buttonwood grow naturally in mangrove swamps and have a very interesting horticultural history. Read More

Hibiscus stars at Foster Garden’s Spring Plant Sale

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on April 14, 2018
• Updated on April 14, 2018 at 6:26 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on April 14, 2018
• Updated on April 14, 2018 at 6:26 pm

Did you know we have many native Hawaiian hibiscus? Some are fragrant, some have flowers that last two days versus the one-day bloom for most varieties. Some of these natives are the “mother” or “tutu/grandmother” of some of our favorite hybrids. Read More

Edgy sedges can be a carefree garden addition

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on March 18, 2018
• Updated on March 16, 2018 at 8:06 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on March 18, 2018
• Updated on March 16, 2018 at 8:06 pm

Sedges have edges — did you know that? It’s how we can tell a grass from a sedge. Read More

Returning to Wahiawa for a botanical adventure

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on February 18, 2018
• Updated on February 17, 2018 at 5:57 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on February 18, 2018
• Updated on February 17, 2018 at 5:57 pm

Back in the 1930s the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association used the Wahiawa Botanical Garden as an experimental arboretum to grow trees for watershed enhancement. The land was up for grabs in the late 1950s when it was rundown, with rows of trees and tall, overgrown Guinea grass. Read More

Community gardens serve as inspiration

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on January 21, 2018
• Updated on January 22, 2018 at 4:16 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on January 21, 2018
• Updated on January 22, 2018 at 4:16 pm

There are so many fabulous greens we can grow in our gardens here in Hawaii. If you growyour own, you can keep them pesticide-free, and you know they are fresh because you picked them yourself. Read More

Use invasive species in Hawaii-style holiday decor

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on December 10, 2017
• Updated on December 13, 2017 at 6:38 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on December 10, 2017
• Updated on December 13, 2017 at 6:38 pm

Christmas berry (Schinus terebinthifolius) is an invasive weed but has been proved to be useful as decor and for some medicinal uses. It is also a nonthirsty plant. Read More

Show-stopping ti plants easy to grow from cuttings

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on November 19, 2017
• Updated on November 19, 2017 at 5:45 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on November 19, 2017
• Updated on November 19, 2017 at 5:45 pm

We have so many amazing ti varieties in Hawaii. The original green ti, also called ki or lai, is a canoe plant, carried here on the great voyaging canoes of the ancient Polynesians. Read More

Unthirsty ‘ZZ’ plants easy to grow indoors

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on October 22, 2017
• Updated on October 22, 2017 at 5:47 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on October 22, 2017
• Updated on October 22, 2017 at 5:47 pm

The “ZZ” plant, also known as Zanzibar Gem, is related to the kalo (taro) plant. Even though a recent addition to our Hawaii nursery trade, they have become widely used in interiorscapes. Read More

Native Hawaiian bees were in isles first

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on September 17, 2017
• Updated on September 17, 2017 at 5:28 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on September 17, 2017
• Updated on September 17, 2017 at 5:28 pm

Native Hawaiian bees pollinated plants here before honeybees were introduced in 1857. The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences has been working with students to kokua these rare and beneficial native insects. Read More

Try espalier technique to grow trees in smaller space

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on August 20, 2017
• Updated on August 19, 2017 at 5:59 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on August 20, 2017
• Updated on August 19, 2017 at 5:59 pm

With land so valuable in Hawaii and our gardens getting smaller, many of us still want to grow fruit trees. Espalier, an ancient and artful gardening technique, could be the answer. Read More

Nonnative tahinu tree flourishes in Hawaii

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on July 16, 2017

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on July 16, 2017

Tahinu is native to tropical shores from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and is especially common on coral islands. In Hawaii, it has spread on the main islands, except Kahoolawe. Read More

Supernutritious sweet potatoes prove easy to grow

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on June 18, 2017
• Updated on June 20, 2017 at 12:38 am

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on June 18, 2017
• Updated on June 20, 2017 at 12:38 am

Uala, or sweet potato, is easy to grow in Hawaii and very versatile in recipes. Read More

Botanical garden, hybrid orchid among Foster’s legacies

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on May 21, 2017
• Updated on May 22, 2017 at 10:33 am

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on May 21, 2017
• Updated on May 22, 2017 at 10:33 am

Do you know about Mary Mikahala Robinson Foster and her many gifts to Hawaii and the world? Read More

Nutritious ulu could boost Hawaii’s food security

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on April 16, 2017
• Updated on April 16, 2017 at 3:50 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on April 16, 2017
• Updated on April 16, 2017 at 3:50 pm

Ulu is rich in fiber, calcium, potassium, B vitamins and pro-vitamin A carotenoids. If more people ate breadfruit, we would cut down on diabetes and other health issues. Read More

Gold trees and relatives can make splendid, colorful lei

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on March 19, 2017
• Updated on March 19, 2017 at 4:46 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on March 19, 2017
• Updated on March 19, 2017 at 4:46 pm

The combo weather we’vebeen having — dry, then wet, calm, then windy from all different directions (trades, Kona, weird easterlies, superstrong southerlies) — seems to have triggered a stress response in gold trees and their relatives that is making them bloom so beautifully this year. Read More

Grasscrete a concrete replacement that helps the aina

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on February 19, 2017
• Updated on February 19, 2017 at 3:34 pm

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on February 19, 2017
• Updated on February 19, 2017 at 3:34 pm

Grasscrete, where grass is grown in cells interspersed between concrete is an akamai and aina-friendly investment in our underground water aquifers. Read More

Bougainvillea blossoms make fine lei

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser on January 15, 2017

By Heidi Bornhorst, Special to the Star-Advertiser Posted on January 15, 2017

Yes, a florist would be faster and easier, but making lei with bougainvillea are a timely way to take advantage of the winter blooming plant. Read More

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