In cooperation with: 

 Agricultural Development Division 

1428 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96814-2512, Telephone: (808) 973-9588, FAX: (808) 973-2909

Internet Web Site: http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Hawaii/index.asp 

HAWAII 

POINSETTIAS

FREQUENCY: Annual RELEASED: November 13, 2008 

2008 SEASON INVENTORY 

UP 5 PERCENT 

Holiday inventory of poinsettias for 2008 is 

estimated at 319,000 pots, up 5 percent 

from the previous season’s inventory 

according to USDA, NASS, Hawaii Field 

Office. The results are based on the 

October 2008 poinsettia grower survey. 

Historically, October pot inventory 

represents 95 to 98 percent of total pots set 

and does not take into account culling for 

disease and quality, combining smaller pots 

into hanging baskets, and other factors that 

may affect the actual amount reaching 

markets during the peak holiday season. 

POINSETTIAS: Fall inventory, State of Hawaii, 2004-2008, with comparisons 

Plant inventory October 

Year Pots set Under 

5 inches 

5-6 1⁄2 

inches 

Over 

6 1⁄2 inches 

Hanging 

Baskets Total 

Pots sold 

Number of pots 

2004 388,000 117,000 227,000 34,000 -- 378,000 327,000 

2005 455,000 115,000 278,000 45,000 -- 438,000 360,000 

2006 358,000 83,000 225,000 37,000 -- 345,000 329,000 

2007 312,000 77,000 204,000 24,000 -- 305,000 315,000 

2008 325,000 64,000 220,000 35,000 -- 319,000 N.A. 

 NA = Not available. 

 -- = Negligible. 

Mark Hudson David Mattice

Director Hawaii County 

King Whetstone 

Deputy Director Naomi Landgraf

Regina Hidano Maui County 

Agricultural Statistician 

Sandy Nakasone June Okamura

Statistical Assistant Honolulu County and Kauai County

Poinsettia Inventory & Quantity Sold, 

State of Hawaii, 1999-2008

0

100

200

300

400

500

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Thousands

Pots set October inventory Quantity sold
Survey indications show October 2008 

inventory of pots in the 5-6 1⁄2 inch category 

accounted for the majority of the inventory with 

220,000 pots or 69 percent of the total. Pots 

under 5 inches comprised of 20 percent or 

64,000 pots while those in the over 6 1⁄2 inch 

category contributed 11 percent or 35,000 pots. 

Pots grown under saran made up 44 percent of 

2008 season’s inventory. Pots grown under 

glass or glass substitute were 36 percent of the 

total and pots grown under open field 

conditions were 20 percent of the total. 

Red continued to be the most popular color for 

the upcoming season and making up 85 

percent of the inventory. The remaining 15 

percent was divided among white, other, pink, 

and marbled. 

POINSETTIAS: Percent of pots available for sale 

by size, in October, 2004-2008

Year Under 

5 inches

5-6 1⁄2 

inches 

Over 6 1⁄2 

inches 

Hanging

Baskets Total 

2004 31 60 9 -- 100 

2005 26 64 10 -- 100 

2006 24 65 11 -- 100 

2007 25 67 8 -- 100 

2008 20 69 11 -- 100 

 

POINSETTIAS: Percent of flowers grown 

by type of growing area, in October, 2004-2008

Year Saran Glass or glass

Substitute Open field 

2004 53 21 26 

2005 48 27 25 

2006 58 21 21 

2007 47 32 21 

2008 44 36 20 

POINSETTIAS: Percent of flowers grown by color, in October, 2004-2008 

Year Red White Pink Marbled Other 

2004 73 2 3 2 20 

2005 74 6 6 5 9 

2006 75 6 6 3 10 

2007 84 4 4 2 6 

2008 85 5 3 2 5