Plant species
ʻIlima
Scientific Name: Sida fallax
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 and 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.
Kuluʻi
Scientific Name: Nototrichium sandwicense
Distribution: This endemic species is found in the dry forest on all the main islands from sea level to above two thousand feet elevation, however, this particular variety is restricted to the island of Kauaʻi. It should also be noted that not only is it an endemic species, but the genus is endemic as well, making it even more unique to Hawaiʻi.
Landscape Use: Kuluʻi is very easy to grow and take care of. Full sun and a good water soaking twice a week will make it look its best: compact, full and shiny. You may notice that when given too much water or not enough sun, the leaves will become larger, more green looking, and not as shiny. This also makes the plant look more ‘leggy’ and not as full. Naturally the plant is very bushy, but pruning it will make it even bushier. Kuluʻi can also be shaped into a nice, thick hedge. Few pests bother this plant, but if you have a lot of ants, they may bring mealy bugs and scales. If you notice this, get rid of the ants first, if the other pests still remain you can either cut the plant back to remove them or spray pesticides or even do both if the problem is really bad.
Cultural Uses: The flower spikes and new leaves look great in head leis or flower arrangements.
Māmaki
Scientific Name: Pipterus albidus
Distribution: This endemic plant is found in mesic to wet forests and valleys on all the main islands except Kahoʻolawe and Niʻihau.
Landscape Use: 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) was not 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.
Maʻohauhele
Scientific Name: Hibiscus brackenridgei subsp. molokaiana
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 Use: 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 maʻohaohele 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.
Mauʻuʻakiʻaki
Scientific Name: Fimbristylis cymosa
Distribution: This indigenous plant is widespread throughout the Pacific. Here in Hawaiʻi it is found in the coastal strand zones usually in rocky areas but sometimes in sand right in the heart of the most brutal conditions.
Landscape Use: Mauʻuʻakiʻaki is very strong and can tolerate the most harsh environments including blazing sun, wind, salt, and drought conditions. Not many pests bother this plant. It is good used as either an accent plant around rocks (just like in its natural habitat) or as a mass planting of ground cover like how you would use mondo grass but in full sun. Don’t over water. The best way to water mauʻuʻakiʻaki is to give it a good soaking and not water again until the soil is completely dried out. Once it's established only water when needed, sometimes that’s never.
Additional Info: Don’t get this plant confused with another native grass called ‘aki’aki, its botanical name is Sporoblolus virginicus, they are very different. Although they grow in the same habitat, ‘aki’aki prefers sandy areas while mauʻu‘akiʻaki likes rocky areas, on top of that, they look nothing alike. What’s funny is that mauʻu is a general name for grasses in Hawaiian language which would make you think that Sporobolus virginicus, the grass, would be called mauʻuʻakiʻaki rather than just ‘akiʻaki and Fymbristylis cymosa, the sedge, would be called just ‘akiʻaki. Whatevahs.
Naupaka kahakai
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 Use: 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 Info: 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
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.
Landscape Use: 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.
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.
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.
Pualoalo
Scientific Name: Hibiscus arnotiianus
Distribution: This exceedingly rare native white hibiscus is endemic to the mesic forests of Oʻahu in both the Koʻolau and Waiʻanae mountain ranges
Landscape Use: As with most hibiscuses, the pualoalo can be trimmed into a beautiful, highly colorful hedge or left alone to be admired as a specimen plant. It is very wind, sun and drought tolerant and is resistant to the unattractive bumps from gall mites that seem to plague most hybrid hibiscus. This is yet another perfect native plant for any garden. Hint: plant this plant in front of a dark background like a rock wall or ti hedge to really show off the flowers! Watch out for aphids and whitefly, if you do notice them treat the plant by either shooting them off with a water hose or spraying them with pesticide. If you follow the directions on the bottle you should have good results.
Cultural Uses: The flowers of hibiscus were eaten as a laxative and some sources say that the native red hibiscus were eaten by girls and women while the white hibiscus were eaten by boys and men. In addition the flowers were also strung into lei but today it is most often put behind the ear.
Plant information adapted from Hui Kū Maoli Ola.