Callus cultures have been established from leaves and stem segments of perennial wild diploid species, namely H. giganteus L., H. trachclifolius Miller, H. nuttalli Torrey et A. Grey and H. maximiliani Schrad. The calli originated from leaves were weak and did not give rise to embryos. Callus growth in stem segments was intensive with 5x10-6-10-5 M 2,4-D and NAA. The calli were maintained in subcultures at 3x10-6 M level of NAA. Regular embyoid and shoot fornation was achieved with 10-6 and 3x10-6 M NAA in combination with BA. kinetin, zeatin and 2iP (10-6-10-5M). The highest number of embryoids and shoots has been obtained in all four spcrcies on solidified medium containing 3x10-6 M NAA+5x10-6 M BA. In agitated liquid medium containing 10-6 M NAA+5X10-6 M BA abundant mass of cell aggregates was produced which in turn, plated on solidified medium with 10-6 M NAA+ 10-6 M BA (or kinetin or zeatin) +40 mg/l adenine + 30g/l sucrose, gave rise to hundreds of embryoids and shoot like structures. Rooted plants were transformed to greenhouse.