DANA ANNE YEE FOUNDATION
Crown Flower Society
MISSION:
The University of Hawai`i Urban Garden Center,
dedication of the Variegated Crown Flower, Calotropis gigantea cv. 'Dana Anne Yee'.
Alberto Ricordi, Dana, William, Jari S.K. Sugano,
Tina Lau:, Christine Hanakawa, and Jessica Higashi. April 27, 2023. Photo by: Pono Chung.
Washington Place, dedication of the Variegated
Crown Flower. First Lady Jamie Green.
March 15, 2023. Photo by: Sammy Green.
The Crown Flower Society was established on June 30, 2023 to create awareness, to educate, to preserve, to recognize, to promote new cultivars, and to honor and promote the cultural significance of the Crown Flower, Calotropis gigantea, for all the people of Hawai`i and the world.
BACKGROUND OF THE SOCIETY:
Known in Hawai`i by it’s English name, Crown Flower, or by it’s Hawaiian name Pua Kalaunu and elsewhere as the common name Giant Calotrope or in Hindi as Madar. The Crown Flower’s historical distribution includes; Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, China, Pakistan, and Nepal. The Crown Flower, Pua Kalaunu, was a favorite of Hawai`i’s beloved Queen Lili`uokalani and the Hindu God Shiva.
Crown Flowers are host plants for caterpillars of the threatened Monarch Butterflies. A new cultivar was discovered in Honolulu, Hawai`i in 2021 that has potential to provide an additional host plant for our threatened Monarch Butterflies in Hawai`i. This new Variegated Crown Flower cultivar was first found and identified by William D. Perreira and Dana Anne Yee. William named the cultivar variety, Calotropis gigantea cv. 'Dana Anne Yee'. This very rare plant arose in the Makiki area on the island of O`ahu, Hawai`i. This plant came from a “sport” that first appeared in 2021 on a plant that was over 40 years old. This mutation is unique; its unusual variegated leaves in yellow, white, and green are normally green.
In addition to being host plants for our threatened Monarch Butterflies, Hawai`i’s centuries old tradition of lei-making continues with Crown Flowers of lavender, purple, and white.
University of Hawai`i Lyon Arboretum. Timothy Kroessig. May 17, 2023. Photo by: Makoa Elgin
Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
David Orr. Oct 8, 2023. Photo by: Sean Flemming.
AFFILIATION:
The Crown Flower Society is a direct affiliate of the
Dana Anne Yee Foundation and is registered with the State of Hawai`i and qualifies as a 501(C)(3) non-profit corporation under the Federal Revenue Code.
CROWN FLOWER SOCIETY NEWS:
October 8, 2023. On a beautiful Sunday at the Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden, David Orr recorded the Calotropis gigantea cv. Dana Anne Yee, Accession No. 23P68. Jari Sugano from the University of Hawai`i Urban Garden Center raised 2 of the plants from the mother plant that we presented to her and Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is now the home of this rare plant.
LANDSCAPE HAWAI`I MAGAZINE:
Variegated Crown Flower 'Dana Anne Yee'
July / August 2023
(click on the magazine page and it will enlarge it).
VARIEGATED CROWN FLOWER "DANA ANNE YEE" TREE PLANTING - MARCH 4, 2026:
It was a joyous sunny morning at the University of Hawai`i Urban Garden Center in Pearl City, Hawai`i. We were all so happy to plant the rare Variegated Crown Flower "Dana Anne Yee" in the most prominent location in the new Lei Garden. Alberto Ricordi the Ornamentals and Landscape Assistant. Extension Agent was instrumental in planning our March 4, 2026 tree planting. Alberto mentioned that Jari Sugano the O`ahu County Administrator and our wonderful leader and supporter, had a Variegated Crown Flower ready to be planted in the Urban Garden Center Gardens. After transforming the former Rose Garden into a Lei Garden, Alberto found the perfect place for this rare Variegated Crown Flower. The Variegated Crown Flower "Dana Anne Yee" is now located at the entrance to greet everyone to this wonderful new growing Lei Garden.t.
The Crown Flower Society proudly planted our new rare tree. Members who attended our tree planting were:
Nancy Green Miller, AIA and Master Gardener Emeritus, Ms. Jeannie Yee, elegant and extraordinary home designer, Dana Anne Yee, FASLA and Master Gardener Emeritus, Mr. Richard Nishida, plant enthusiast and flourishing garden grower, William Perreira, Entomologist and Master Gardener Emeritus, Alberto Ricordi, ASLA, UH, and Tina Lau the Jr. Extension Agent, O'ahu Master Gardener Coordinator enjoyed every moment of our tree planting morning. Alberto treated everyone to a tour of the new Lei Garden, showing us colorful varieties of Plumeria flowers, miniature Crown Flowers, and Variegated Naupaka.
We hope that the Variegated Crown Flower "Dana Anne Yee" grows healthy, happy, and strong and that it provides much joy to all those who visit the new Lei Garden at the Urban Garden Center.
New Crown Flower Society Members are welcome. E Komo Mai.
