ABOUT US
At Plant Group Hawaiʻi, our mission is to collect, cultivate, and conserve rare tropical plants.
​
We specialize in finding and growing species that are vanishing from the wild—many of which face extinction within our lifetime. Currently, we are conserving over 30 threatened species, including rare members of the Zingiberales (Heliconia carmelae, Heliconia harlingii, Heliconia fernandezii), native Hawaiian plants (Gardenia brighamii, Hibiscus brackenridgei, Pritchardia maideniana), and endangered palms from across the tropics (Carpoxylon macrospermum, Coccothrinax crinita, Ravenea hildebrandtii).
​​
About Our Founder
Mark Collins, founder of Plant Group Hawaii (PGH), Eden Farms, and Jungle Jewels, spent decades traveling to over 50 countries in search of exceptional tropical plants. A renowned plant collector, he named and introduced more than 200 species in the order Zingiberales, including the very first Heliconia ever introduced to Thailand. His contributions earned him the honor of two eponymous species: Zingiber collinsii and Boesenbergia collinsii.
Mark served as President of the Heliconia Society International from 2000 to 2002 and is celebrated for popularizing many cultivated varieties that are grown around the world today. Some of our favorites include Heliconia penduloides ‘Perfect Darling’, H. gloriosa ‘Satin Glory’, H. orthotricha ‘Eden Pink’, H. griggsiana ‘Harvest Moon’, Zingiber collinsii ‘Silver Streaks’, Globba winitii ‘Pristina Pink’, and Globba siamensis ‘White Swan’.​
​About the Next Generation
Dr. Colton Collins carries forward the family legacy of plant exploration and innovation with a scientific foundation rooted in conservation. He earned his B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Portland, followed by a M.S. in Conservation Biology from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, where his research focused on large-scale diversity and endemism patterns in Heliconiaceae.
​
Colton went on to complete his Ph.D. in Forest Ecology at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. His dissertation explored plant-soil interactions in tropical forests, with field research conducted in the peat swamp forests of Brunei. His work contributes to our understanding of ecosystem function and resilience in some of the world’s most threatened habitats.
​
An active field botanist and collector, Colton has conducted expeditions across Southeast Asia and Latin America. He has introduced several cultivated selections now grown internationally, including Heliconia griggsiana ‘Hunter’s Moon’, Heliconia caribaea × bihai ‘Mellow Yellow’ and others.
​
Today, Colton leads Plant Group Hawaii with a focus on conservation through cultivation—preserving rare and endangered species.
MISSION
Collect, cultivate, and conserve plants. Inspire and help others to do the same.
COLLECT
We collect plants from diverse ecosystems throughout the tropics. Our exploratory efforts are guided by type localities, species distribution models, and local guides. Currently, our collecting expeditions are focused on Zingiberales in the American tropics and Southeast Asia. Follow our blog to keep up with our latest adventure!
CULTIVATE
Our collection is cultivated in Hilo, Hawaii. We are constantly learning about the growing conditions for each of our accessions and we have become proficient in growing plants from rhizomes, bulbs, cutting, seeds, bulbils, and plantlets. For growing tips, look at our growing guide or send us an email with your questions.
CONSERVE
Habitat loss and climate change are severe threats to tropical plants and the organisms and ecosystems that depend on them. Ideally, we would like to conserve entire ecosystems but given our limited resources, we focus on ex-situ conservation. If you want to participate or support this form of conservation you can do so by growing rare plants or by making a purchase from our online store. Your business helps us maintain our current collection and fund future collecting expeditions.