{"id":242666,"date":"2026-10-28T08:00:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T18:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=242666"},"modified":"2026-10-26T14:17:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T00:17:32","slug":"tropical-proteas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/10\/28\/tropical-proteas\/","title":{"rendered":"New tropical proteas expand flower farming across Hawaiʻi"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"flowers
New CTAHR<\/abbr>-developed protea at Two Bee’s Protea Farm. (Photo credit: Ken Leonhardt)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Mānoa<\/span> College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience<\/a> (CTAHR<\/abbr>) have achieved a breakthrough in floriculture by breeding new “tropical” pincushion protea (Leucospermum<\/em>) hybrids that bloom near sea level, reducing local reliance on imported flowers.<\/p>\n

“These new genetic combinations allow growers at all elevations to harvest flowers nearly year-round. They also make colorful contributions to urban, commercial and resort landscapes,” said CTAHR<\/abbr> Professor Kenneth Leonhardt of the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences.<\/p>\n

Overcoming mountain-high barrier<\/h2>\n
\"flowers
Several varieties of CTAHR<\/abbr>-developed tropical protea at Two Bee\u2019s Protea Farm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pincushion proteas are native to South Africa and need cool night temperatures to grow their famous flower buds. Hawaiʻi\u2019s<\/span> commercial protea production was limited to elevations between 2,500 and 4,000 feet, primarily in Upcountry Maui and on Hawaiʻi<\/span> Island’s high-elevation areas.<\/p>\n

This kind of agricultural land is scarce and expensive, pricing many local cut-flower growers out of the protea market.<\/p>\n

Science behind breakthrough<\/h2>\n

Led by Leonhardt, the research team conducted years of warm-temperature tolerance trials, as well as trials at low elevations such as Two Bee\u2019s Protea Farm on Oʻahu\u2019s<\/span> North Shore. He identified three seldom-used species as key sources of heat resistance and used that insight in a successful, years-long breeding program.<\/p>\n

These new varieties of protea have several standout traits:<\/p>\n

\"flower\"
The “Brandi Dela Cruz” variety of tropical protea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \n
  • Created to grow abundant floral buds in warmer, coastal environments without requiring cool mountain nights.<\/li>\n
  • Selected for vibrant colors, extended blooming seasons, straight stems and reduced leaf\/stem fuzz.<\/li>\n
  • 18 of the new cultivars have been internationally registered in Stellenbosch, South Africa, establishing CTAHR<\/abbr> as a premier global leader in tropical ornamental breeding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Benefits to local growers<\/h2>\n

    The college and its partners have distributed more than 11,000 of the newly bred plants to 33 Hawaiʻi<\/span> Island farms. Most of these distributions have been in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Tropical Flower Council through their Import Replacement Program, funded by a grant from the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.<\/p>\n

    Leonhardt and his team are also working with producers of container landscape plants to establish the new tropical proteas in home gardens and commercial and resort landscapes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in floriculture by breeding new “tropical” pincushion protea hybrids that bloom near sea level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":242671,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[212,265,1363,432,9],"class_list":["post-242666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-college-of-tropical-agriculture-and-human-resilience","tag-cooperative-extension-service","tag-manoa-research","tag-tropical-plant-and-soil-sciences","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t