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Brighamia (Hawaiian Volcano Palm)

Hawaiian Volcano Palm or Cabbage on a Stick is amongst the most endangered plant genera in the world. It is a small genus with one to two species only within the bellflower family (Campanulaceae), namely Brighamia insignis and Brighamia rockii. Both are (respectively were) native to the Hawaiian archipelago and have been facing severe reproductive problems as their pollinator has become extinct. Brighamia insignis was native of steep cliffs from sea level to some 250m in the Na Pali Coast and Ha'upu Ridge of Kaua'i. In 1998 only some 30 remaining wild specimens were known from 5 separate populations in nature. As of 2015 the last wild specimen has disappeared, so that this species is now regarded as extinct in the wild. Both Brighamia species are very unusual and most ornamental plants with a broad crown of large glossy, spoon-shaped, leathery, fresh green leaves on a succulent, broad, usually unbranched, grayish-green stem and decorative, fragrant, white or pale yellow and very long stalked flowers. Both species are easily cultivated in any rich, very well drained, rather inorganic soil (e.g. grit lava or coarse sand) in a partially shaded spot during summer and full sun in winter at a minimum of some 15°C. Keep plants drier in summer when they will naturally go dormant and will lose most of their leaves. With decreasing temperatures in autumn a new leaf rosette will unfold, then carefully start to give more frequently water.
Sow the fine seeds flat on any very well drained soil. Do not cover seeds with soil and keep pots at some 20°C in a partially shaded spot. Always carefully water from beneath.
20 seeds per package.

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Brighamia insignis (Hawaiian Volcano Palm)

90 (150)cm, Hawaiian Volcano Palm is a very unusual, in habitat extinct, most ornamental caudex plant with a massive, unbranched, grayish green stem and a dense crown of large, spoon shaped, fresh green, glossy leaves. It produces fragrant, white to pale yellow, trumpet shaped and very ong stalked flowers. It is easily cultivated in any very well drained soil in a sunny (winter) to partially shaded (summer) spot at a minimum of some 10°C. Brighamia insignis is usually not self pollinating, which has lead to its extinction as its natural pollinator (a hawk moth) had become extinct and an artificial pollination program had been stopped. Our seeds are from a single specimen which has proven to readily self pollinate and which does not depend on any pollinator nor an artificial pollination anymore in order to set viable seeds. The first daughter generation exhibits the same capability of self pollination, so that this unique strain may be the basis for a future reintroduction program in habitat. VIII-X.
20 seeds per package.

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