Floriculture & Nursery
Hawai'i Island’s floriculture and nursery industry is a vital component of the state’s agricultural economy, producing high-value tropical flowers, foliage, and landscape plants. The island’s climate allows for the year-round production of diverse ornamental crops, including orchids, anthuriums, and heliconias, which are sold locally and exported to mainland markets. According to the 2022 USDA NASS Agricultural Census, floriculture and nursery production remains one of the top revenue-generating agricultural sectors in Hawaii.
The value chain for floriculture and nursery products begins with specialized growers cultivating plants in controlled environments such as greenhouses and shade houses. Once harvested, flowers and nursery plants are carefully processed, packed, and shipped to wholesalers, retailers, and florists. A significant portion of Hawaii’s floral exports reach markets in the continental U.S., requiring efficient transportation logistics and adherence to phytosanitary regulations.
Despite strong demand, the sector faces challenges such as rising production costs, labor shortages, and competition from international producers. The high cost of air freight presents an additional barrier to profitability, making efficient distribution strategies essential for success. Additionally, ensuring disease-free exports is a constant concern, as stringent regulatory requirements must be met to access key markets.
Floriculture & Nursery Products
Lei Flowers
Lei flowers are a culturally significant subset of Hawaii’s floriculture, encompassing the blossoms, foliage, and vines used to create Hawaiian lei garlands. On Hawaii Island, numerous farms and backyard growers cultivate lei flowers such as plumeria, orchids, tuberose, pikake (jasmine), and crown flower. While some lei materials overlap with cut flower production, this category focuses on flowers grown primarily for use in leis. Hawaii Island plays a role in supplying these blooms both for local use and for shipment to other islands and the mainland, although the lei flower industry faces challenges from imports and generational shifts.
Potted Flowering Plants
Potted flowering plants are a cornerstone of Hawai'i Island’s nursery sector, led by the commercial cultivation of orchids. Hawai'i Island is famous for its orchid nurseries – from dendrobiums and cattleyas to phalaenopsis – which ship blooming plants worldwide. Other potted flowering crops include anthuriums, poinsettias, and tropical ornamentals sold as living decor. Hawai'i Island’s growers utilize greenhouses and shadehouses to produce high-quality flowering plants year-round.
Nursery Stock and Landscape Plants
Nursery stock refers to plants grown for outdoor planting in landscapes – including shade trees, ornamental shrubs, fruit trees, and turf (sod). Hawaii Island has a substantial nursery stock sector, providing everything from palm trees for resort landscapes to native plants for reforestation. Often overlapping with “landscape plant materials,” this category serves hotels, developers, homeowners, and government projects across the state. Hawaii Island’s ample land and climate allow nurseries to cultivate a broad range of landscape plants that support the islands’ lush gardens and urban greenery.
Cut Flowers (including Cut Florist Greens)
Hawaii Island produces a vibrant assortment of cut flowers – notably tropical blooms – and cut foliage for floral use. These include iconic Hawaiian flowers grown for bouquets and arrangements, as well as specialty greens used by florists. The Big Island’s warm, humid environment (especially East Hawaii) is ideal for year-round flower production, making it a leading source of the state’s cut flowers.
Foliage Plants (Indoor/Outdoor Foliage and Tropical Foliage)
Foliage plants – grown for their leaves and form rather than showy flowers – are a significant segment of Hawaii Island’s nursery industry. This category includes potted houseplants (from palms to philodendrons) and cut foliage sold to florists. The Big Island’s Puna and Hilo areas are historically known as the “foliage belt” of Hawaiʻi, supplying lush tropical plants to local and export markets. These plants bring a touch of the tropics to homes, offices, and landscapes around the world.