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Bignoniaceae

Some of the most brilliantly colored flowers in the plant kingdom can be found in this family of nearly 750 species. Most evolved in tropical South America, and in a surprisingly wide variety of forms, from trees and shrubs to herbs and woody vines. The showy, asymmetrical flowers are typified by the African tulip tree, Spathodea campanulata*, the Jacaranda, J. Mimosifolis, and the many forms of Tabebuia.

The fruit, usually not palatable to people, sometimes take unusual shapes which give the calabash tree, the sausage tree and the candle tree their common names.

Although some species yield durable hardwood, most are cultivated as ornamentals for landscaping.*this weedy species has been eliminate from Waimea Valley.

Hibiscus Hybrids

Among the most popular flowers of tropical regions are the magnificent blooms of the hybrid Hibiscus.

The Hibiscus hybrid collection presents a dramatic floral display of several hundred cultivars from throughout the world.  Many of these are antique or heirloom varieties, no longer in vogue.

(Visit the Hibiscus Evolution Garden to learn of the development of the Modern Hibiscus hybrid).

Araecaceae

The palm family is one of the oldest groups of flowering plants. Fossil records show that they dominated the mid-cretaceous forests 80 million years ago. Today nearly 2650 species can be found in the tropics and warm temperate regions. They have adapted to widely varying habitats, from seashores to mountaintops and from deserts to steamy jungles. The fruit and other vegetative parts provide edible oils, starches and sugars, as well as medicines, waxes, fibers and thatching material. Examples of economically important produces are coconuts, dates, Carnauba wax and rattan. Both the American and African oil palms are on display here.
 

The palms in this garden are divided into 15 sections according to different evolutionary characteristics. 

Loulu Palms

Only one genus of palms existed in Hawai‘i before the arrival of man. The Loulu or Pritchardia palms diversified to many species, each adapted to a specific region on one or more of the islands.  Our native loulu palms are planted on seperate beds in the Palm Meadow, each shaped like the Hawaiian island where that loulu is native.