A flower lei can be worn anytime by anyone.
Flower leis are associated with the Hawaiian Islands, but the lei's origins from Polynesia, particularly Tahiti. Polynesian voyagers traveling by ocean-going vessels to Hawaii, settled in the Islands and introduced the lei. Today, fragrant and colorful flower leis are traditional in greeting visitors to Hawaii and for a variety of celebrations. Although any type of flower can be used to create a flower lei, plumeria, ginger, orchids and hibiscus are most common for authentic Hawaiian leis. Does this Spark an idea?
Plumeria
White plumeria flowers with bright-yellow centers are the most fragrant of all plumeria species and the most common flower used for Hawaiian leis. Other plumeria species in shades of pink, red, yellow and multiple colors are used when color is important. Plumeria is related to the oleander, growing as a large shrub or tree. The simple, five-petal flowers grow in clusters with waxy petals making the flower durable and long lasting for leis.
Ginger
White and yellow ginger flowers are often used for leis, not only for their enticing aroma, but also for the orchid-like appearance. White ginger flower leis symbolize love and romance and are used in wedding ceremonies. Leis made from white or yellow ginger are strung using the Micronesian style, which allows the flowers to lay flat against the body, accenting the flower's delicate shape.
Dendrobium Orchid
Dendrobium orchids are now grown commercially, primarily for lei making in Hawaii, because of the flower's durability, fragrance and appearance. The dendrobium orchid is an easy flower to string for leis. The orchid grows in many colors including yellow, yellow-brown, green, pink, white, purple or lavender. Dendrobium orchid leis last four days or longer and can be revived from heat stress by floating in a bowl of water for 10 minutes.
Tuberose
The fragrance and creamy-white flower of the tuberose make it an ideal blossom for lei making. Often mixed with orchids, greenery and less-fragrant flowers for a lei, tuberose is grown in single or double varieties with the double variety more durable for leis. Single tuberose leis are more fragile and do not last for more than a day or two. The sweet smell and long, tubular flowers that open to a star shape is what makes the tuberose a sought-after lei flower.
Tags: flower used, Hawaiian leis, most common, plumeria species, yellow ginger