Tropical Leucospermum hybrids trial at 150 m elevation on Oahu, Hawaii

Leucospermum species are temperate plants native to South Africa and have restricted production regions in Hawaii limited to elevations of 800 m or higher.
This limitation and competition for land have been partially responsible for a decline in Leucospermum production in Hawaii.
Agriculture land at lower elevations is more abundant, cheaper and is an option for growing low elevation tolerant cultivars.
At low elevations, Leucospermum species and hybrids usually show plagiotropic growth habits not the upright growth habit preferred.
The breeding program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has focused on developing hybrids that will perform to commercial standards for plant growth, yield and quality, when grown at or near sea level.
Nine Leucospermum hybrids were trialed at 150 m (492 ft) elevation on Oahu, HI. Weather, plant growth, flowering and plant health data were collected from 2021 to 2023. All nine hybrids had acceptable fitness for commercial cut flower cropping at this low elevation site.
The data collected for each hybrid are discussed.

XV International Protea Research Symposium

R. Galanti, K.W. Leonhardt

Leucospermum, tropical, temperature tolerance, Hawaii

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1463.8