Plant species
ʻIlieʻe
Photo: Mānoa Heritage Center
Scientific name: Plumbago zeylanica
Distribution: This plant is indigenous, meaning that it is native to Hawaiʻi, as well as other parts of the world. In Hawaiʻi, it is found on all the main islands in the lowland dry forest all the way down to the coast in either the full hot sun or as the understory in disturbed areas dominated by alien plants like koa haole and or kiawe.
Landscape use and care: ‘Ilieʻe is the perfect ground cover plant. As in the wild, where it is often found thriving in the full sun and in the shade, in landscaping, it does the same and looks great planted under other trees or under the eves of houses in partial shade as well as in the full sun—although you will have more flowers if the plant is in the sun. It requires little watering to become established, every other day is fine for initial establishment but once that has happened it will hardly need it at all. ʻIlieʻe also seems resistant to most pests and diseases.
Cultural uses: The sap of ʻlieʻe is used by Hawaiians to blacken tattoos.
Additional info: In other places of the world where this plant is also native, the seeds were probably dispersed by sticking on large grazing land mammals. In Hawaiʻi, however, the islands evolved without any of these large land mammals, instead, giant flightless birds like geese most likely played this role.
ʻIlima papa
Photo: Waikōloa Dry Forest Reserve
Scientific name: Sida fallax
Distribution: Naturally, ‘ilima papa is found on all the Hawaiian islands and many other places in the Pacific. All grow near the ocean in what is called the “strand vegetation” zone. Here the plants are exposed to extremely harsh conditions such as salt spray, wind, intense sun and heat, and drought. Because of this, the plants that occupy this vegetation zone have generally the same physical characteristics as mentioned above.
Landscape use and care: Plant ‘ilima papa as a ground cover anywhere that has full sun, is pretty dry and has non-clay soil. Space the plants about 1-1/2 to 2 feet apart. Do not over water. The best thing to do is to soak the ground and not water again until the soil has completely dried out. If you water too much, you’ll notice that the plants won’t be as prostrate and will get quite tall, especially if planted too close. Eventually the leaves will start to yellow, even drupe, which is a sign often mistaken for drying out so people add more water to the already drowning plant. If you notice this happening to your plant feel the soil first, if it’s still moist let it dry out. Bugs that sometimes feed on this plant are mealy bugs that are usually brought by ants, and whiteflies. Get rid of the ants with granular pesticide and treat the plant with any store bought pesticide that specifically kills mealybugs and whiteflies. Slugs and snails also like to live under ground covers so if you know your area has slugs or snails treat the area with slug and snail bait.
Uses: ‘Ilima is the island flower of Oʻahu and is used to make lei ‘ilima. The flowers can also be used as a mild laxative for babies. You can even put some in your tossed salad to add nice color by pinching them out of their calyxes (the small green cup that the petals emerge from), don’t worry about it being a laxative, it only works for babies. You would have to eat half a lei to make it work for adults but if you need to go then just keep pickin’.
Māmaki
Scientific name: Pipterus albidus
Photo: Rick Barboza
Distribution: This endemic plant is found in mesic to wet forests and valleys on all the main islands except Kahoʻolawe and Niʻihau.
Landscape use and care: Māmaki does well as an understory shrub or in semi-shaded areas. It also does fine in full sun with moderate watering. As with most plants, māmaki also does better in well drained soils. Few pests bother this plant but spider mites may colonize under the leaves, wiping them off with soapy water should take care of it.
Cultural uses: Māmaki was used to make kapa when the softer, more preferred wauke (paper mulberry) wasn’t available. Today, as well as in the past, māmaki is commonly used to make a mild but invigorating and healthy tea.
Additional info: If caterpillars are present, be careful about spraying the plant because those caterpillars may be the larvae of the native Kamehameha Butterfly who use the māmaki as a host plant. You also don’t want to spray it with pesticides if you plan on using the plant for making tea anyway. As for the butterfly, the adult looks similar to a non-native monarch butterfly but with more bold designs and a fuzzier body. However, the Kamehameha butterfly is becoming increasingly rare because not as much māmaki is available for this insect to thrive on, but on the contrary, more monarch butterflies are seen because more people are planting its favorite host plant, crown flower, which is also not native to Hawaiʻi. By planting māmaki in your garden, not only will you be helping to increase the number of plants, but also the number of Kamehameha butterflies.
Maʻo hau hele
Scientific name: Hibiscus brackenridgei subsp. molokaiana
Photo: Rosa Say, Flickr
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, maʻo 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.
Nāʻū
Scientific name: Gardenia brighamii
Photo: Hawaiʻi Horticulture
Distribution: This extremely rare plant is one of many Native Hawaiian plants found on the federal endangered species list. In the wild there is only one plant remaining on Oʻahu and a handful on Lānaʻi, all totaling around 10 plants left in the world. In fact the plants in this pot are the grandchildren of the last remaining plant from Oʻahu. They were once believed to have existed on all of the main islands in the dry forest.
Cultural uses: The yellow-orange pulp found within the seed capsule was highly valued for making a rich yellow dye for aliʻi. The color is so unique that it was called naʻu, after the plant from which it is derived. The light colored wood was also used for making house posts for people of high status and the fragrant flowers are also strung into beautiful lei. Nowadays this would be the perfect flower for ‘behind da eeah’ (behind the ear) to make the beautiful women of Hawaiʻi even more beautiful, at least they’ll smell better! Nah, only joke!
Landscape use and care: This must-have plant looks great as a hedge or as a specimen plant that stands alone in all its glory. Treat this plant like how many people treat their puakenikeni, they put it where everyone can see it! No be shame! Show this plant off, it deserves it. Full sun is best; it will grow faster, stay bushier and flower most although I’ve seen it grow quite well in partial shade. Daily watering is fine if you have well drained soil; if not then wait until the surrounding soil dries out before watering again. Once the plant is established, reduce watering to only when needed, this plant doesn’t require much water which is great for times like now when water conservation is so important.
Naupaka kahakai
Photo: DLNR
Scientific name: Scaevola gaudichaudiana; S. gaudichaudii; S. mollis
Distribution: This Native Hawaiian species is found throughout the tropics on the coast. Locally, naupaka can be found on practically every sandy or rocky beach.
Landscape uses and care: Naupaka kahakai makes a great hedge. Its natural habitat will tell you that this plant thrives in full sun and needs very little water once established in the ground. This plant can be shaped into a low hedge or groomed into a large hedge reaching over 10 feet tall. Planting them every 2 feet will ensure a thick and beautiful hedge. Very few pests bother this extremely hardy plant.
Additional information: On sandy beaches, the wind-breaking effect of naupaka traps sand at their roots, forming a mound. Over periods of time, the continuing sand deposits turn into sand dunes.
Pōhinahina
Photo: Mānoa Heritage Center
Scientific name: Vitex rotundifolia
Distribution: This is an indigenous plant, native to Hawaiʻi as well as other parts of the Pacific, even Japan. In Hawaiʻi it is found on sandy coasts of all the main islands except Kahoʻolawe, although it may have occurred there in the past.
Cultural uses: The fragrant leaves of this plant can be layered between folded kapa to repel insects. The leaves and flowers can also be arranged in lei poʻo.
Landscape uses and care: An excellent plant for use in stabilizing soil. As it grows, the branches lean over and root at the nodes that are touching the ground. They make excellent ground covers for slopes that need help with erosion control. Generally, pōhinahina are quick growers and require very little water, they thrive in full sun. These plants respond well to pruning and can be formed into a low hedge; they also look great in pots for your lanai. To cover large areas, plant spacing of every two feet on center is close enough; they’ll fill in just fine. Few pests are known to bother this plant. It is hardy and easy to take care of. If you kill this plant then yes, your thumbs may be brown.
Additional info: Besides pōhinahina, depending on which island you are on, this plant is also known as kolokolo kahakai, hinahina kolo, manawanawa, mawanawana, and polinalina.
ʻŪlei
Scientific name: Osteomeles anthylidifolia
Photo: Maui Magazine
Distribution: This indigenous plant is commonly found in a wide range of habitats from ocean cliffs all the way up through the lowland dry forest and mesic forests on all of the main islands except Niʻihau and Kahoʻolawe.
Cultural uses: The hard wood of the larger specimens were made into ‘oʻo, fishing spears, and the musical instrument ‘ukeke. The branches were bent into fishnet hoops as well as fashioned into arrow shafts. The leaves, flowers, and fruit were also woven into lei and sometimes the fruit was eaten. It’s no blueberry or strawberry but it tastes pretty good when eaten on the trail and you’ve been hiking for six hours and have absolutely nothing else to eat.
Landscape uses and care: This a great addition to any garden from a specimen plant, to a low hedge, or a mass planting on a slope, it all looks good. It can even be shaped into a perfectly round ball about five feet in diameter. Few pests bother this one and its shiny leaves and beautiful flower clusters are awesome features. Once it’s established in the ground you don’t even have to worry about watering.
Additional info: Other names for this plant include uʻulei or on Molokaʻi it's called eluehe. ‘Ūlei is one of four native plants in the rose family along with ‘ohelo papa, our native strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis), and two species of ‘akala, our native raspberries (Rubus hawaiensis and R. macraei).