Plant species
Alaheʻe | Scientific Name: Psydrax odoratum
An indigenous large tree (20-30 ft.) with glossy green leaves and small, white, highly fragrant flower clusters. As the tree grows, it has a radially symmetric growth pattern to it, somewhat like a Christmas Tree, which by the way, it subs as an excellent one! The name alaheʻe means slippery/wandering fragrance. It gets this name because when in full bloom, the plant is completely covered in flower clusters and many times you’ll smell the plant before you actually see it.
Distribution: This indigenous tree is found in the dry to mesic forests on all the main islands except Niʻihau and Kahoʻolawe. In certain localities you can still find this plant along the coast.
Cultural Uses: Digging tools and adze handles were made from the hard wood of this plant while a black dye was also made from the leaves. In addition, the flowers and fruit are used in lei.
Landscape Uses and Care: Alaheʻe loves full sun and or partial shade and requires minimal watering once plant is established in the ground. Looks great as a single specimen plant or even used as a hedge.
ʻIlima | Scientific Name: Sida fallax
There are many different varieties of ʻilima in Hawaiʻi. On the coast, ʻilima papa (flat ʻilima) grows prostrate, perhaps up to a foot tall, while others in dry and mesic forests grow into bushes up to four to six feet or so. All have rounded green leaves with serrated margins but the mountain varieties tend to have more of a pointed apex on the leaf tip. Some coastal varieties have leaves that are covered with extremely soft, velvet-like hairs which are actually an evolutionary adaptation to reflect sunlight and prevent the plant from drying out but are really nice to touch. Their flowers for which they are most known for are about an inch in diameter and a rich orange hue, they are also very soft but at the same time very fragile.
Distribution: ʻIlima is a common shrub or ground cover found on the coast and on up into the dry and mesic forest of all the Hawaiian Islands, this particular variety is found more in the mesic forests of Kauaʻi and Oʻahu. Other than that, ʻilima is classified as an indigenous plant so that means it is native to Hawaiʻi as well as other parts of the world.
Landscape Use: This plant makes an attractive low hedge or can be left alone as a specimen plant. Plant it in full sun to achieve maximum number of flowers and water less after plant shows signs of new growth. This will help the plant stay more bushier and not so leggy. Less watering will also increase the velvety look of the leaves and help keep the bugs away. ‘Ilima generally likes dry and hot conditions. Few pests are know to attack ‘Ilima, occasionally white fly may be found on the undersides of the leaves or aphids on the new leaves, a quick wash with a mild soap solution should help or following the label on a store bought pesticide for white fly and aphids will also work.
Cultural Uses: The flowers of ʻilima can be strung into lei and they are also used as a mild laxative for babies.
Additional Info: Today, ʻilima is known as the island flower of Oʻahu and is still strung into lei, but what people don’t realize is that you can add the flowers to your salads, they add great color taste pretty good too. Make sure you pop out the flower from the calyx which is the little green cup at the base of the petals, just roll the calyx in between your fingers and the flower should pop right out. Don’t eat the flowers if you sprayed the plant with pesticides. If you did, read the label of the pesticide to see if you can eat from the plant after spraying and how long you should wait before you do.
Kokiʻo ʻulaʻula | Scientific Name: Hibiscus kokio
A typical hibiscus shrub (4-10 ft. tall) with extremely glossy, dark green leaves and small red hibiscus flowers. This species, as well as Hibiscus clayi, are the only types of red hibiscus that are native. All of the other red hibiscus that are seen in landscapes are introduced and/or are hybrid cultivars.
Distribution: This species is found sparingly in the dry-wet forests of all the main islands except Niʻihau and Kahoʻolawe.
Landscape Use and Care: This plant makes good for a hedge or specimen plant for your garden. It prefers full sun to partial shade and does best in well drained soil. Few pests bother this plant except for the occasional white-fly or aphid. Store bought pesticides should control the problem should it arise. Every other day watering is sufficient.
Cultural Uses: The flowers of this plant were used as a mild laxative and as a dye.
Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo | Scientific Name: Hibiscus arnottianus subsp. immaculatus
This much-sought-after shrub can reach the height of a 15-foot tree but usually stays in the 5- to 8-foot range. It has light green leaves that are large compared with the typical Hibiscus waimeae, but its flowers are one-fifth the size of its more common relative. They do have one thing in common: the color and scent of their flowers. Both are bright white with a light pink stamen, with a slight fragrance.
Another attractive feature is that the flowers emerge at the tips of the branches, allowing them to stand out, as small as they are. They bloom a brilliant white and, by the end of two days, slowly fade to light pink and begin to close. It is definitely the cutest of all the native hibiscus, makes beautiful leis and fits perfectly behind the ear. It’s ideal for those who want to wear a flower but not a giant hibiscus that appears as though the flower is wearing them.
Distribution: This rare subspecies of native white hibiscus is endemic to the wetter forests in the northern and northwestern valleys of Kauai and nowhere else in the world.
Cultural Uses: The flowers can be eaten as a laxative. Some say that the native red hibiscus was eaten by girls and women, while the white was eaten by boys and men.
Landscape Uses and Care: As with most hibiscuses, the koki’o ke’oke’o can be trimmed into a beautiful and colorful hedge, but I think it looks better as a stand-alone plant to be admired from all directions.
It can handle full sun quite well but does best in partially shaded areas with filtered sunlight. Hint: Plant it in front of a dark background — such as a rock wall or ti hedge — to really show off the flowers!
Watch out for aphids and whiteflies. Either shoot them off with a water hose or spray them with pesticide. You should have good results if you follow the directions on the bottle.
Additional Information: The native white hibiscuses, which include Hibiscus arnottianus (found on Oʻahu and Molokaʻi) and this species, H. waimeae, are the only naturally fragrant hibiscuses in the world.
Maʻo hau hele | Species name: Hibiscus brackenridgei subsp. molokaiana
A shrub (up to 10 ft.) with maple like leaves and bright yellow hibiscus flowers. This plant varies in appearance between islands but generally falls into three subspecies: H.brackenridgei subsp. brackenridgei of Maui, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, and Hawai’i and H. brackenridgei subsp. mokuleianus of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi and H. brackenridgei subsp. molokaiana of Molokaʻi and O’ahu. The most visible difference between the three subspecies is in the leaves and stems. Subspecies mokuleianus has leaves with more serrated margins and pink veins; there are also tiny spines on the branches. Meanwhile, subspecies brackenridgei has leaves with more rounded margins, yellow veins and lacks the tiny spines on the branches. This particular subspecies came from Mākua Valley on Oʻahu where it was only recently discovered and posses characteristics of both subspecies making it very appealing. Its leaves resemble those of the subspecies brackenridgei but with pink veins like subspecies mokuleianus and although it is from Oʻahu, it lacks the branch thorns of subsp. mokuleianus which is a good thing cause those little pricks can hurt.
Distribution: This is an endemic species found only in Hawaiʻi, it is also an endangered species with very few populations left in the wild. They are usually found in the dry to mesic forests of all the main islands except Niʻihau (it was once reportedly collected from Kahoʻolawe but now it no longer exists there).
Landscape Uses and Care: This plant does well in full sun to partial shade and needs very little water to thrive although daily watering is okay. It is a fast grower and will flower twice a year. Each flowering period lasts up to two months with blooms occurring daily on a flowering stalk that rises up above the rest of the plant. Unlike most hibiscuses, this plant doesn’t perform well as a hedge. Instead it looks best as a specimen plant. Rose beetles may attack the leaves of maohaohele at night and leave them looking like Swiss cheese. To prevent this, planting it near a light source at night should help. It seems that plants which are normally affected by rose beetles aren’t affected as much when they are either planted near landscape lighting or under a bright streetlamp or porch light. Leave the lights on from dusk until at least 8 or 9 at night and that should keep those nasty munchers away. Occasionally, whiteflies may be found under the leaves, any store bought pesticide should remedy that problem.
Additional Info: The name of this plant, ma’o hau hele, literally means the “traveling green hau”. It is probable that it got this name because after the plant gets to be about 3-5 years old it will become top heavy and either lean over or fall over and sprout new roots where the leaning branches touch the ground. Sometimes the old portion of the plant will die and the newly sprouted roots from the leaning branches will make the same plant thrive in a new spot a few feet over from its original location. Over time if the plant continues to flop over and sprout new roots it can move quite some distance. Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi founder, Lorin Gill, recalls a particular maʻo hau hele traveling over 20 ft in about 15 years! In 1988, the State of Hawaiʻi changed the state flower from the native red hibiscus (Hibiscus kokio) to this one. It should be made clear that this is the only species of yellow hibiscus that can be called our state flower, all other yellow hibiscus are not.
Information and photos by Hui Kū Maoli Ola.