DEVELOPMENT OF HELICONIA AND ALPINIA IN HAWAII: CULTIVAR SELECTION AND CULTURE.

In 1987, cut flower heliconias were valued at $1.4 million while red gingers were valued at $485,000; together they comprised about 6% of the floriculture industry in Hawaii. Both have been grown for local use for many decades but only since 1980 has an enlarged exotic cut flower demand brought them to prominence. This paper reviews the cultural programs which have supported the development of these crops.