(To view data for specific UH cultivars, please select from the menu on the left.)

The union of beauty, science and agribusiness founded its roots in 1950 when the University of Hawaii established its dendrobium research program under the guidance of Dr. Haruyuki Kamemoto. Today, over fifty years later, we see the foresight of the choice to create seed propagated cultivars over the typical method of clonal propagation.

The research and trials along with advanced genetic engineering has resulted in hybrids that now serve as the foundation for the cut flower business in the Hawaiian Islands. The long process of testing is applied to each new hybrid even before it is offered to the participating DOGAH* labs to insure that a high level of desirability is obtained for each UH cultivar. Productivity, vase life, seasonality, flower count are some of the criteria used to determine if the cross is acceptable for release. Thus we find UH cultivars to be highly reliable, consistent and extremely productive.

Testing is also further continued as individual nurseries raise UH cultivars, and provide "real life" feedback for the variation in productivity that may exist in the diverse microclimates of the Hawaiian chain. In our experience, established UH cultivars continue to rank above any other in terms of reliability and productivity. The data may appear unrealistic or might seem exaggerated in their production values. We are well aware that growing techniques, and climatic conditions can result in significant differences in production levels. Only by testing a few cultivars for yourself will you realize what a marked difference these sexually reproduced, viral free seedlings (**)can make.

(*) DOGAH - Dendrobium Orchid Growers Association of Hawaii
(**) Lindleyana 11(4): 211-213, 1996: Lack of seed transmission of Cymbidium Mosaic Virus in Dendrobium