Almost every orchid you see in Hawaii did not evolve there. Hawaiian orchids in resort gardens and lei stands are mostly introduced species. They came from Asia and the Pacific, not from the islands themselves.
Hawaii has only three native orchid species. They are rare enough that most residents never see one in a lifetime of living there. What people call Hawaiian orchids in nurseries and leis are naturalized or purely cultivated plants.
The Honest Answer About Orchids In Hawaii
Orchids in Hawaii fall into three clear groups: native, naturalized, and cultivated. Native means a species evolved on the islands and grows nowhere else. Naturalized means an introduced species now reproduces on its own in the wild.
Cultivated means people planted and maintain it. It does not spread without help. Most Hawaiian orchid plants that tourists notice are naturalized or cultivated, not native.
This confuses a lot of visitors, since Hawaii markets itself heavily on orchid imagery. Gift shops sell leis and shirts covered in Dendrobium and Vanda flowers. Those genera came from Asia and the Pacific, not from Hawaiian soil.
The confusion has a real cost too. Some of the same showy genera sold as houseplants have escaped into native forest. There they compete with the rare true natives.
The Three Native Hawaiian Orchids
Only three orchid species are true native Hawaiian orchids, per the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. They are Anoectochilus sandvicensis, Liparis hawaiensis, and Platanthera holochila. All three are small and uncommon to very rare.
Anoectochilus sandvicensis is a jewel orchid with dark, patterned leaves low to the ground. It grows in shaded, wet forest understory rather than on trees. Relatives of this genus are grown elsewhere as jewel orchid houseplants, but this species stays wild.
Liparis hawaiensis grows from about 1,600 to over 5,000 feet in elevation. It lives on mossy trees and wet ground. It blooms from May through July, with a dozen or more small flowers on a slender stalk.
This species survives on all the main islands except Niihau and Kahoolawe. Even so, it stays uncommon and easy to walk past. Its flowers are small and pale, not showy like a nursery orchid.
Platanthera holochila is the rarest of the three. It is federally listed as endangered.
Wild populations exist at only a handful of remote bog sites. No one should ever try to collect this plant.
For native orchid species elsewhere in the country, see our page on north american native orchids. The pattern is similar there too. A few true natives sit surrounded by far more common introduced species.
Naturalized Orchids and the Weed Risk in Hawaii
Beyond the three endemics, CTAHR lists close to a dozen orchid species that now reproduce on their own. Named naturalized species include Arundina graminifolia, Cymbidium dayanum, Dendrobium antennatum, and Epidendrum nocturnum. Phaius tankervilleae and Spathoglottis plicata are on the list as well.
None of these species are native, even though they now grow wild in disturbed habitat. The Hawaiian bamboo orchid is one of the most visible, often lining roadsides. Some naturalized orchid vines reach up to 100 feet tall.
Certain naturalized species move from seed to flower in as little as one to three years. That speed lets them spread through pasture and disturbed forest fast. A single overlooked plant can seed a whole hillside within a few seasons.
Hawaii screens new plant introductions with a weed risk system built on 49 questions. That system reports a 95 percent success rate at flagging likely invasives. Researchers have also documented invasive bee species pollinating some of these orchids, including Centris nitida and Centris tarsata.
An orchid specialist weevil, Stethobaris polita, has also turned up on naturalized populations. CTAHR states plainly that preventing an invasive introduction beats managing one later. That is the real story behind most orchids of Hawaii growing wild on the islands.
This is also why Hawaii treats new orchid imports with real caution. A plant that looks harmless in a nursery pot can behave differently in wet, unmanaged forest. The weed risk work exists to catch that gap early.
The Lei and Cut Flower Trade
Hawaii’s real orchid industry has nothing to do with the three endemics. Growers on the Big Island have raised Dendrobium for lei and cut flower sales for generations. That trade is centered around Hilo.
Purple and white Dendrobium sprays are the flowers most visitors associate with a Hawaiian orchid lei. Vanda hybrids, especially descendants of Vanda Miss Joaquim, also show up in leis. Both genera are introduced, not native, whatever the lei stand marketing implies.
Lei makers favor Dendrobium partly because the sprays hold up well once cut. A single flowering cane can supply blooms for several leis. Growers time plantings so canes flower steadily through the year.
Many lei Dendrobiums trace back to species from the Philippines. That native flora is covered in orchids of the Philippines.
Where Visitors See Orchids of Hawaii
Most orchids of Hawaii that tourists encounter grow in cultivated settings, not the wild. Hilo is home to orchid nurseries and an annual orchid show. That show draws growers from across the islands.
Botanical gardens on several islands keep large orchid collections among other tropical species. The Volcano area on the Big Island has a cool, wet upland climate. It supports both cultivated orchid gardens and pockets of native forest.
That native forest is where a patient hiker might spot Liparis hawaiensis. Finding one takes luck and a slow pace. None of the three endemics grow in the resort landscaping most visitors photograph.
If you enjoy spotting orchids growing on their own, our wild orchids guide has identification tips. Those tips work in any state. The same native versus naturalized split applies almost everywhere orchids grow outside cultivation.
Growing Hawaiian Orchid Plants at Home
Growing Hawaiian orchid plants at home usually means growing Dendrobium, not the native trio. Lei type Dendrobiums like night temperatures of 55 to 65 F. Days should run 70 to 85 F, per American Orchid Society guidance.
Warm growing types can tolerate 90 to 95 F during summer heat. Keep humidity between 40 and 70 percent. Let the medium dry slightly between waterings while the plant is actively growing.
Reduce watering once canes mature on Nobile type Dendrobiums. That dry rest period helps trigger blooms. Feed at quarter to half label strength during active growth.
A high nitrogen formula such as 30-10-10 supports the cane growth these orchids rely on. This is a grow formula, not a bloom trigger. Skip anything marketed purely as a bloom booster.
Repot every two to three years. Only divide a clump once it has three to five mature canes. Mixing 25 to 33 percent sphagnum into bark helps hold moisture through drier stretches.
Plants kept too dark grow lanky and thin. Too much direct sun causes yellowing or scorched leaves. Give Dendrobium 25 to 50 percent full sun, roughly 1,500 to 3,000 foot candles.
That is brighter than most Phalaenopsis want. Do not move a lei type Dendrobium into a shaded Phalaenopsis spot. Vanda types grown Hawaiian style need even more light and steady airflow around bare roots.
If you are new to growing any orchid indoors, learn the basics before branching into Dendrobium. A steady watering routine matters more than any single fertilizer choice. Consistency beats chasing a perfect schedule.
The most loved dooryard species in the islands, the fragrant honohono orchid, needs a cool dry winter to flower.
Hawaiian Orchid Status at a Glance
| Orchid | Status in Hawaii | Where Seen |
|---|---|---|
| Anoectochilus sandvicensis | Endemic | Wet native forest understory |
| Liparis hawaiensis | Endemic | Native forest, 1,600 to 5,000+ feet |
| Platanthera holochila | Endemic, federally endangered | A few remote bog sites |
| Arundina graminifolia | Naturalized | Roadsides, disturbed forest |
| Spathoglottis plicata | Naturalized | Pastures, disturbed ground |
| Phaius tankervilleae | Naturalized | Wet disturbed forest |
| Dendrobium, lei types | Cultivated | Hilo farms, home gardens |
| Vanda, Miss Joaquim types | Cultivated | Leis, gardens, floral trade |
Sources
- CTAHR: Naturalizing Orchids and the Hawaii Pacific Weed Risk Assessment System, extension publication. https://www3.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/OF-51.pdf
- American Orchid Society: Dendrobium General Culture Sheet, care sheet. https://www.aos.org/orchid-care/care-sheets/dendrobium-general-culture-sheet
- University of Hawaii Native Plants Hawaii: Liparis hawaiensis species profile. https://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plants/liparis-hawaiensis/
Frequently asked questions
How many orchid species are native to Hawaii?
Only three: Anoectochilus sandvicensis, Liparis hawaiensis, and Platanthera holochila. All three are rare and easy to miss in the wild.
Are Dendrobium orchids native to Hawaii?
No. Dendrobium is an introduced genus grown widely for leis and cut flowers, not a native hawaiian orchid.
Is the bamboo orchid native to Hawaii?
No. Arundina graminifolia is naturalized, meaning it now reproduces on its own after being introduced.
Where can I see native Hawaiian orchids in the wild?
Native orchids grow in wet upland forest and bog habitat, often near the Volcano area. Platanthera holochila is federally endangered, so never collect a wild orchid you find.
What orchids are used for Hawaiian leis?
Growers mainly use Dendrobium and Vanda hybrids for leis, not native species. Purple and white Dendrobium sprays are the most common lei orchid.