HAWAI'I GARDENS
Wood rose seeds need a little help

By Heidi Bornhorst

Q.I've been trying for the longest time to germinate wood roses. Is there some secret method? I've tried pre soaking in warm water and just planting the seeds, but still have not tried as of yet, planting on a full moon. Please help me!

A. First make sure that you have good seeds with no pukas (from insects, etc) You might need to nick or scarify the seeds to get them started. Rub them on sandpaper or nick a side with clippers. Then do your warm-water soak for about 24 hours and then plant them in a clean pot with sterile planting media.

Wood roses are a big vine and can be weedy. Are you sure you want to grow them? They will need a very sturdy trellis or strong tree to grow up. They are very pretty with their yellow morning glory flowers and woody seed pods.

As for planting with the aid of the moon this is not hard. Old farmers watch the moon and so did the ancient Hawaiians. The late May Moir taught me some simple horticulture guidelines:

• For cuttings, plant on the waning moon.
• For seeds, pollination etc., plant on the waxing moon.

Some people laugh at this, but we have found that with difficult, rare and precious native Hawaiian plants, being aware of and following the moon phases does help the plants to grow.

Q. I am a pepper lover and would like to know if black pepper grows here in Hawai'i. If so, where can I find plants? Also do you know if black pepper grows on a vine, a bush or a tree?

A. Black pepper grows on a vine and is a very attractive plant to grow. The leaves are glossy and heart shaped, with boldly patterned veins. A good place to see black pepper is at Foster Botanical Garden, in the economic garden. There are two historic, exceptional gold trees. A handsome black pepper vine grows up the mauka side tree.

To get yourself a plant, call Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, where volunteers are propagating it, or try Lyon Arboretum. They sell specialty plants year round, not just at their plant sales.

Provide an attractive sturdy trellis, or tree for the black pepper vine to grow up. One of the experts on black pepper is retired Kamehameha Schools teacher Helen Lang, who volunteers in the Ho'omaluhia nursery as a propagator (and would love some extra helping hands) and is also a docent at Foster Garden. She has taken a deep interest in cultivating and knowing about black pepper and other spices.

Scientifically we call the black pepper vine Piper nigrum. Black and white pepper both come from the fruit of this tropical vine, which is native to India and Southeast Asia. It is widely grown in the tropics and has appeal for our Hawai'i gardens as well. Being one of the most widely grown spices, it is sure to spice up your garden and cooking!

Another relative is Piper betle, which is used with lime and betel nut palms for people who chew betel nut. Many people around the world chew the addictive seed as casually as Westerners chew gum or drink coffee.

Pepper is related to 'awa, which is also known as kava, as well as to our native Hawaiian peperomias, 'ala 'ala wai nui.

What's in bloom

One of my favorite gardens is full of color and easy to maintain. I am inspired by this garden in hot lower Palolo, full of baby orchids, or epidendrums. We call them epis for short. They are epic! This garden is simple, with brick and cement paths, and the orchids grow in pots and raised beds and are easy to admire and care for.

The name baby orchid is perfect to describe this old fashioned plant. It is easy to grow, and you can collect them in many colors, as retired Foster Botanical Garden secretary Thelma Matsuo has done in her Pauoa garden.

We used to see them only in reds and oranges. Now there are purples, lavenders, whites and many shades of orange-red and yellow. There are old-fashioned tiny-flowered ones as well as newer hybrids with larger flowers.

Epis readily make keiki plants, and these can be cut off, potted and given to your favorite flower lover.