Cut
Flower
of the month
tropical flowers
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WHAT IS A
TROPICAL FLOWER, AND WHAT IS NOT?
Tropical flowers, as their
category name suggests, are native to the Torrid Zone (a.k.a.
the tropics)—the section of the Earth between the tropics of
Cancer and Capricorn.
The regions immediately on the other sides of the tropics
are known as the subtropics, and flowers that are native to
those regions are known as subtropical flowers. They include
Strelitzia (bird-of-paradise) and members of the
Proteaceae family.
Birds-of-paradise Strelitzia, which
is native to South Africa, is included in this article because
it is widely considered a tropical flower and requires higher
refrigeration temperatures than most other flowers that are
native to subtropical and temperate zones.
Proteas
Proteaceae family members, however, including Banksia,
Leucadendron (conebush), Leucospermum
(pincushion), Protea and Telopea (waratah), which
are native to South Africa and southern Australia, are not
included because they have many of the same care requirements as
nontropical flowers, such as refrigeration at 33 F to 36 F.
Note about orchids:
While most orchids are
native to tropical regions (southern Asia, northern Australia,
Central America, and northern and central South America), they
are not included in this article because they were featured in
our June issue (Pages 42-47) and will be showcased again in a
2010 issue.
vase-life
extenders
PROCESSING
Immediately remove tropical flowers from their shipping boxes.
Check the flower quality, and inspect for insects. If insects
are present, spray the flowers with an insecticidal soap (e.g.,
Safer®, Garden Safe® or Ortho® EcoSense™)
With Alpinias
(red ginger, shell ginger) and Anthuriums, submerge the
flower heads in room-temperature water to help hydrate them (see
“Special Handling” under “Alpinia” and “Anthurium,”
opposite page).
Next recut the stem ends with a sharp knife, removing at
least 1 inch of stem, then immediately place them into
containers half filled with warm (100 F to 110 F) properly
proportioned flower-food solution. Some tropical flowers respond
favorably to the nutrients in flower-food solutions, but others
are unaffected. However, other ingredients in flower foods help
with water uptake (citric acid) and control bacteria in storage
and arrangement containers (biocide), so it is recommended that
you use flower foods with all tropical flowers.
Recut stems and change flower-food solution in storage
containers every other day.
REFRIGERATION
Tropical flowers are chill sensitive and will sustain damage
when stored at temperatures lower than 50 F; therefore, experts
advise storing most tropical flowers at 55 F to 60 F. One
exception is long-term storage of birds-of-paradise (see
“Storage temperature” under “Strelitzia,” Page 20).
If your department
does not have a separate tropical flower cooler to accommodate
the higher temperature requirements of these special blooms,
store them outside the cooler, at room temperature. If you store
tropical flowers outside of a floral cooler, mist them
generously at least once a day.
ETHYLENE
SENSITIVITY
Most tropical flowers are fairly resistant to the effects of
ethylene gas. One exception appears to be Curcuma, which
is reported to be highly sensitive—although no scientific tests
have been performed to substantiate that claim.
CONSUMER
ACTION
Instruct consumers to generously mist their tropical flowers at
least once a day and to avoid exposing them to direct sunlight.
ALPINIA
spp.
Common names:
red ginger, shell ginger
Vase life: 6 to 14 days or
longer, depending on species, variety and postharvest care
Storage temperature:
55 F to 60 F
Availability:
year-round
Origin:
Malaysia;
Indonesia; and Oceania (Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia)
Special handling:
Submerging flower heads in room-temperature water for about 30
minutes upon these flowers’ arrival, to help hydrate them, is
often recommended; however, the practice has not been
scientifically studied. Alpinias are geotropic (affected
by gravity), so store them vertically to prevent blooms from
curving.
 ANTHURIUM
spp.
Common names:
tailflower, flamingo flower
Vase life: 10 to 28 days or
longer, depending on species, variety and postharvest care
Storage temperature:
55 F to 65 F; ideal storage temperatures vary among species and
varieties
Availability:
year-round
Origin: Central America
and Colombia
Special handling:
Submerging flower heads in room-temperature water for two or
more hours upon these flowers’ arrival, to help hydrate them, is
often recommended; however, it is not a scientifically proven
practice.
CALATHEA
spp.
Common names:
‘Green Ice’ Calathea, ‘Blue Ice’ Calathea,
rattlesnake Calathea, cigar Calathea, cauassú
Vase life: 6 to 10 days or
longer, depending on species and postharvest care
Storage temperature:
55 F to 60 F
Availability:
year-round, depending on species
and variety
Origin: tropical Mexico,
Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and the West Indies
  
 COSTUS
spp.
Common names:
spiral ginger, painted spiral ginger, spotted spiral ginger,
spiral flag, red tower ginger
Vase life: 7 to 21 days or
longer, depending on species
Storage temperature:
55 F to 60 F
Availability:
year-round, depending on species and postharvest care
Origin: tropical Mexico;
Central America; western South America (Colombia, Ecuador,
Peru); Hispaniola (Haiti, Dominican Republic); tropical India;
and Southeast Asia
  
 CURCUMA
spp.
Common name:
turmeric
Vase life: 7 to 10 days
Storage temperature:
55 F to 60 F
Availability:
April through December
Origin: tropical India,
Southeast Asia and northern Australia
 Etlingera
spp. (syn. Nicolaia, Phaeomeria)
Common names:
torch ginger, Philippine waxflower
Vase life: 3 to 10 days,
depending on species and postharvest care
Storage temperature:
55 F to 60 F
Availability:
year-round, depending on species and variety
Origin: Indonesia
 HELICONIA
spp.
Common names:
lobster claw, false bird-of-paradise, wild plantain, balisier,
firebird, macaw flower, parrot flower, parrot’s plantain,
parrot’s beak, parakeet flower
Vase life: 7 to 14 days,
depending on species. Larger diameter and longer-stemmed species
have longer vase life.
Storage temperature:
55 F to 60 F
Availability:
year-round
Origin: lowland regions of
Central America and tropical South America;
Melanesia (southwest
Pacific islands)
Special handling:
Do not submerge these flower heads in water as is recommended
with Alpinias (gingers), Anthuriums and
Strelitzias. To clean the flower heads, sponge with
room-temperature soapy water, then rinse and let dry. Add shine
to nonfuzzy varieties by spraying with an antitranspirant or
plant shine product or by applying a light coat of cooking oil.
  
 MUSA
spp.
Common name:
flowering banana
Vase life: 7 to 21 days or
longer, depending on postharvest care
Storage temperature:
55 F to 65 F
Availability:
year-round
Origin: Bangladesh and
Myanmar (Burma)
 STRELITZIA
spp.
Common names:
bird-of-paradise, crane flower
Vase life: 7 to 14 days
Storage temperature:
short-term storage (three or less days), 55 F; long-term storage
(more than three days), 44 F to 46 F
Availability:
year-round
Origin: subtropical South
Africa
Special handling:
To open tight birds-of-paradise, soak the flower heads in
lukewarm water for about 20 minutes, then insert your thumb or
forefinger inside the unopened sheath, through the slit on the
upper side of the flower head, and gently lift out at least one
of the new flowers (you can remove more flowers if you handle
them extremely delicately). If you remove more than one flower,
carefully spread them into a fan-shaped display, cautiously
remove the thin white membrane that separates each and rinse off
any nectar exudate.
 TAPEINOCHILOS
spp.
Common names:
Indonesian wax ginger, Indonesian ginger, pineapple ginger
Vase life: 6 to 14 days
Storage temperature:
55 F to 60 F
Availability:
year-round
Origin: eastern Indonesia,
New Guinea and northern Australia
ZINGIBER
spp.
Common names:
beehive ginger, Malaysian ginger, shampoo ginger, pine-cone
ginger, wild ginger
Vase life: 6 to 14 days or
longer, depending on species and postharvest care
Storage temperature:
55 F to 60 F
Availability:
year-round, depending on species
Origin: tropical India and
Southeast Asia
 To order a copy of
Neotropica: Hawaii Tropical Flower & Plant Guide, visit
www.superfloralretailing.com, and click on “Bookstore,” or
call (800) 355-8086. Softcover. 128 pages. More than 750 cut
flower and plant variety photos.
Flower photos by Colin Gilliam
Taken from Neotropica: Hawaii Tropical Flower & Plant Guide, by
Hitomi Gilliam, AIFD, and Lois Hiranaga, AIFD.
Used with permission of Design358 Publishing,
www.design358.com, (604)
302-4992 and Hawaii Tropical Flower Council
www.hawaiisflowers.com
Some information provided by:
AmeriLink International,
www.floratrader.com
Botanica, by R.G. Turner Jr. and Ernie Wasson
Chain of Life Network® ,
www.chainoflife.org
Hortus Third, by Liberty Hyde Bailey and Ethel Zoe Bailey
Neotropica: Hawaii Tropical Flower & Plant Guide, by Hitomi
Gilliam, AIFD, and Lois Hiranaga, AIFD
SAF Flower & Plant Care, by Terril A Nell, Ph.D. and Michael S.
Reid, Ph.D.
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