Learn how to grow ohia from cuttings

On Saturday, July 20, horticulturist Brian Kiyabu will share his secrets of growing ohia from cuttings at the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden visitor center in Captain Cook. The beautiful ohia lehua trees come in a wide variety of flower colors and leaf forms and, while they make up the majority of trees in Hawaii’s forests, they could also be a much more significant part of home and public landscaping, says Kiyabu.

Cuttings are an important way to proprogate ohia, because seedlings are very slow to grow and often do not flower true. The mini-workshop will start at noon and last about half an hour. Gardeners are invited to bring a small branch from an ohia they would like to propagate, and under Kiyabu’s direction, they can make and pot up cuttings to take home with them.

No pre-registration is required and there is no charge to attend, but a small materials fee will be collected from those who take home potted cuttings. Ohia are also for sale in the AGG native Hawaiian plant nursery.

At 1 p.m., visitors can also join a Guided Native Plant Walk through Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden. The usual modest entrance fee will be waived for participants in the workshop An award from the county Department of Research and Development and the Hawaii Tourism Authority funds the Guided Native Plant Walks offered at the Garden daily, Tuesday through Sunday.

The garden is located at 81-6160 Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook. It is open for self-guided visitors Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays and holidays. There is a $7 admission fee for adults and reduced fees for seniors, kamaaina, military and children. For more information call 323-3318 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org/greenwell.