Endemic
Tree up to 100'+ & up to 12' diameter
500'-5000'+ Elevation
Lowland dry forest to high elevation wet forest.
Leaves start out as finely compound and turn to crescent moon shaped modified leaf stalks or phyllodes, not leaves.
Creamy, white, yellow, puff ball flowers.
Being in the Pea Family it has oblong seed pods.
Natural nitrogen fixer
Wood used for woodworking, Hale construction, and canoe building.
Indigenous
Mesic to wet forests
Perennial groundcover shrub 2'-4'
Partial shade to full shade.
Opposite leaves with serrated edges.
Stems dark reddish purple with small hairs.
Small flower clusters turn to sticky seeds.
Medicinal - Brewed into a tea. Anti-inflammatory, pneumonia, lungs and liver.
Used on skin wounds
Indigenous
Sea level to 2500'+
Epiphytic fern on the ground or in trees
Partial sun to partial shade. Likes water
Does well in a container or pot or anywhere you can tie and attach it to.
Long smooth glossy fronds span up to 10'+
Raised midrib on underside of frond.
Intricate vein design on underside of fronds.
Indigenous
Sea level around wetlands and marshes.
Creeping perennial groundcover.
Full sun to partial shade; loves water
Salt tolerant; soil stabilizer for erosion control.
Small opposite green, fleshy, succulent like leaves.
Small white to blueish flowers
Flowers to seed capsules
Endemic
Sea level to upland forests
Perennial Shrub
Full Sun to Partial Shade
19 endemic species; each island having several of their own species.
Many different leaf and flower variations between species.
Hawaiensis has elongated ovalish leaves with serrated edges
Small yellow sunflowers
Flowers turn to seed with no barbs
Hawaii endemic species of Bidens dont have barbs because there was no animals
Medicinal: leaves & flowers brewed into tea; Lowers blood pressure and good for arthritis
Endemic - Vulnerable
Coastal and dry lowlands
Groundcover shrub up to 5'
Full sun; low water
Drought, salt, and wind tolerant; Soil stabilizer for erosion control
Alternate round ovalish leaves.
Large white extravagant flowers with drooping stamens.
Flowers open around sunset
Flowers turn to small cucumber like fruit that are actually berries.
Berries start green and turn yellow orange when ripe
Indigenous
Coastal and dry lowlands
Tree up to 35'
Full sun; low water
Drought, salt, and wind tolerant
Broad ovate to cordate leaves
Beautiful orange flowers that turn round fruit containing seed.
Flowers used in lei
Main wood used for 'umeke la'au (wooden containers) and calabashes.
Favored for food and water because the wood wouldn't affect the flavor.
Indigenous
Sea level to 1000' in wetland habitats
Grass like sedge up to 3'
Full sun; soil stabilizer for erosion control
Can be planted in ponds and water features
Pretty drought tolerant in the garden
Attractive spikey flower clusters that turn to seed
Sedges have edges! Leaf blades are sharp!
Flower stalks used for weaving and cordage
Medicinal - Used to treat thrush in children
Indigenous
Dryland forest to mesic to wet forest
Perennial clumping Lily
Full sun to partial shade
Long sword like leaves
Small bluish white flowers emerge on stalks
Flowers turn to bright bluish purple fruit
Fruit was used to dye kapa
Leaves were used for cordage and house thatching
Endemic
Sea level to 4000' Dry to mesic forests
Medium sized tree up to 30'
Full sun; Low water; wind and salt tolerant
Small leathery shiny green leaves.
New growth is reddish pink
Small flowers turn to fruit containing seed.
Fruit starts yellow and turns red when ripe.
Fruit is edible and tasty.
Also called Hawaiian Persimmon
Also called the Hawaiian Ebony.
Prized reddish brown hardwood
Hardwood used in construction
Sacred to the Hula Goddess Laka
Indigenous
Sea level to 5000'+
Shrub up to small tree up to 15'+
Full sun to partial shade.
Very wind and drought tolerant
Alternate elongated shiny green leaves
Unisexual, male and female flowers on same plant or different plants.
Triangular winged seed capsules that range from red, pink, yellow, green
Seed capsules used in lei making
Seed capsules used to make a red dye
Hard flexible wood used for spears, tools, and building
Medicinal - young leaf tips were boiled and used on skin ailments
Indigenous
Along sandy rocky coastlines
Small grass like sedge less than 1'
"Hawaiian Mondo Grass" native alternative to Mondo grass.
Full sun; low water; drought and salt tolerant.
Good soil stabilizer for erosion control
Great for zeroscaping or used as a container plant.
Stiff slender leaves; pokey to the touch.
Small flower clusters emerge on stalk.
Flowers then turn to seed
Endemic - Vulnerable
Sea level to 500' +
Sprawling groundcover to shrub up to 5'
Full sun; low water
Fuzzy, deeply lobed, maple like leaves
Yellow hibiscus like flower;
Flowers turn to small cotton balls containing seed
Cotton has small hairs not used for clothing
Used for medicinal purposes like q-tips
Green dye produced from leaves and flowers
Bred with textile cotton b/c of its pest disease resilience
Endemic
AKA: Koki’o Kea; Pualoalo; Aloalo
Native White Hibiscus (Kea / Ke’oke’o meaning white)
Mesic to wet forest regions
Shrub to small tree up to 20'+
Full sun to partial shade
Glossy round green leaves with maroon stems.
Beautiful white fragrant flowers turn to seed. The only fragrant hibiscus
Flowers were used as a laxative
2 Koki'o Ke'o Ke'o species: H. arnottianus and H. waimeae
5 subspecies: H. arnottianus ssp. (arnottianus, immaculatus, punaluuensis)
H. waimeae ssp. (waimeae, hannerae)
Endemic
All 3 subspecies, brackenridgei, molokaiana, and mokuleianus are endangered.
Sea level to 2500' in dry forests.
Ma'o Hau Hele is our state flower!
Ma'o Hau Hele translates to "green traveling hau" describing its growth habit. Sometimes it will get top heavy and fall over and reroot and continue growing.
It has fuzzy, maple like leaves with deep lobes and serrated edges.
It has beautiful yellow flowers that were used to make a green dye.
Bark was used for cordage.
Indigenous
Only indigenous species of the native hibiscus
Sea level to 1000' in wetlands
Shrub up to 10'
Full sun; loves water but can also be drought tolerant
Beautiful pink/purple flowers
Heart shaped leaves are fuzzy and have serrated edges
Stems and flower buds hairy almost spiky; careful picking flowers ;)
Rose beetles eat the leaves. To help prevent this plant near a night light source
Bark was used for cordage; Flowers were used as a laxative
Endemic
Mesic to wet forest regions
Shrub to small tree up to 15'
Full sun to partial shade.
Leaves can have smooth or slightly serrated edges.
Beautiful red flowers are constantly in bloom.
Flowers were used as a laxative.
Bark was used for cordage.
Indigenous / Polynesian Introduced
Sea Level to 5000'
Groundcover crawling climbing vine
Full sun to partial shade
Green cordate heart shaped leaves
New growth is fuzzy/pubescent silvery
Beautiful Bluish purple flowers open in the morning turn pink in afternoon.
Medicinal - Roots, stems, leaves used as a laxative
Pounded roots and stems applied to wounds and sores
Endemic
Sea Level sandy to rocky coastlines
Groundcover crawling vine that doesnt seem to climb
Full sun; low water
Drought, wind, salt tolerant; Good soil stabilizer for erosion control
Small white to light blue flowers that turn to tan papery seed capsules
Translates to "skirt of Hi'iaka".
Hi'iaka, Pele's younger sister, wears and uses this vine in many stories
Medicinal - Leaves were used to treat thrush in babies. Leaves and stems made into tea
Endemic
Endangered water fern.
Dry areas with periodic water, around wetland areas, stream banks, and around edges of lo'i kalo.
Looks like a four leaf clover but it's actually a fern.
Fronds fold together at night and open back up in the morning.
Likes the full sun if getting enough water.
It is an excellent plant for water features like ponds or lo'i. It does well as a container plant when kept in a tray of water.
Spores cases or sporocarps form in hairy/fuzzy clusters.
Indigenous
1000' to 5000'
Groundcover swordtail fern up to 2'
Full sun to partial shade; likes water
Frondlets less than 2" wide compared to common Kupukupu up to 4-5"
Spreads by root tubers
Other swordtail ferns are very invasive and often sold here, Boston and Asian swordferns
Endemic
Sea level to 2000'
Dry lowland forest
Shrub up to 6'
Full sun; low water; drought tolerant
Silvery ovalish leaves with tiny soft hairs
Unique drooping flower spikes
Dried flowers and wood used for fireworks
Indigenous
Sea level to 5000'+
Rocky coastlines to dry lowland forest
Tends to grow as crawling groundcover at low elevations and shrub to small tree up to 15'
Full sun; low water; drought tolerant
Green compound leaves with a silvery underside.
Small white 5 petaled fragrant flowers
Flowers turn to bluish white pulpy fruit.
Flowers and fruit used in lei.
Hard flexible wood was used to make fish nets, spears, and musical instruments.
Indigenous/Polynesian Introduced
Coastal tree up to 35'+
Full sun; low water; drought tolerant
Screwpine, Walking Tree, Pineapple Tree
Long spiny leaves grow in a spiral like a screw.
Tree is supported by many aerial roots making it look like it's walking.
Female fruits resemble a pineapple.
Fruit is edible but not as tasty as a pineapple
Male flowers are intoxicatingly fragrant.
Leaves weaved into mats, hats, baskets, and thatching.
Fruits used in lei, as paintbrushes, and stamps.
Endemic
Sea level to 5000'
Large shrub up to 15'+
Partial sun to shade. Understory plant
Large green serrated leaves with red to pink veins
White fleshy berries that produce seed
Leaves and berries are edible
Medicinal - Leaves brewed fresh into a tea
Endemic
1000' to 5000' elevation
Shrub to Small tree up to 30'+
Sun to partial shade
Large fuzzy green obovate leaves
New growth is fuzzy hairy brown
Small white fragrant flower clusters
Flowers turn to oval seed capsules
Inside the capsules is bright yellow orange with black seeds resembling a cut in half papaya.
Favorite food of the 'Alalā, the Hawaiian Crow
Rats unfortunately also like to eat the seeds
Image Courtesy of Starr Environmental
Indigenous
Sea level along rocky coastlines
Small perennial shrub groundcover
Full sun; low water
Drought and salt tolerant
Fuzzy, fleshy, succulent like leaves with ribbed edges
Small white to blueish flowers resembling mini orchids
Flowers turn to seed
Hawaiian mint - edible and medicinal
Hawaiiam mint has no taste or fragrance because it HAD no animals that ate it. Indigenous
Sea level along rocky coastlines
Groundcover; small shrub perennial
Full sun; low water
Drought and salt tolerant
Fuzz
Indigenous
Sea level to lowland forests
Sprawling ground cover to small shrub
Full Sun to partial shade; moderate water
Understory plant
Small white star like flowers with green sticky base
Commonly called "poor girls earings" Flowers can be stuck to ones ears.
Flowers turn to fruit brown elongated fruit
Endemic
Endangered
Found at 2 locations, on the islands of Molokini and Kaho'olawe on rocky cliff sides.
Clumping erect succulent up to 2'
Loves full sun, well drained soil, low water.
Excellent plant for xeriscaping and rock gardens.
Does well in a concrete or ceramic pot with well drained soil mix.
Will rot if over watered
Thick, round succulent leaves.
Beautiful yellow flower clusters emerge on stalks.
Indigenous
Clumping sprawling succulent up to 1'
Loves full sun, well drained soil, low water.
Excellent plant for xeriscaping and rock gardens.
Does well in a concrete or ceramic pot with well drained soil mix.
Will rot if over watered
Elongated round succulent leaves.
Beautiful yellow flower clusters emerge on stalks.
Indigenous
Sea level to 5000'
Grows on ground, on rocks, on trees, dry to moist areas (terestrial and epiphyte)
Frondless leafless fern relative up to 2'
Full sun to partial shade
In full sun the stems turn more light green yellow orange and dark green in the shade.
Spores develope into yellow ball like spore cases at the tips of stems
Used in lei making.
Medicinal for treating fungal infections
Made into a tea lathargic properties
Moa means chicken, the stems of Moa look like chicken feet
Endemic
200' to 5000' mesic wet forests
Medium sized tree up to 30'+
Full sun to partial shade; Likes water; Understory Tree
Large round oval opposite glossy leaves.
Liko, new growth looks like praying hands.
Piko, small depressions on underside of leaves.
Small white to yellow flowers turn to orange fruit containing seeds.
Hardwood was used for tools
Indigenous
200' to 5000'
Dry to mesic wet forests
Medium sized tree up to 30'+
Full sun to partial shade
Shiny glossy green opposite leaves with pointed tips.
Small white fragrant flower clusters turn to greenish black fruit clusters.
Extremely hard wood was used for tools like 'ō'ō and sharp edge blades to cut softer wood.
Black dye was made from leaves
Indigenous
Sea Level
Sprawling shrub up to 10'
Full sun; low water
Drought, wind, salt tolerant; soil stabilizer for erosion control
Intricate half flower with 5 petals
Flowers turn to round white pulpy fruit containing seed
There are several mountain species Naupaka Kuahiwi also have half flowers some white some yellow and have black fruit
Both beach and mountain varieties of Naupaka occur in old Hawaiian stories
Indigenous
Sea level on beaches, marshes, and wetlands
Perennial groundcover
Reddish stems with succulent like leaves
Small purple/pink flowers
Hawaiian sea purslane; edible
Antibacterial and anti-fungal properties
Indigenous
Sea level to 2000'
Sprawling groundcover to shrub up to 5'
Full sun to partial shade
Highly variable species; leaves and flowers can differ
Coastal species tend to be low lying shrubs with fuzzy leaves
Upland species tend to be upright shrubs with glossy leaves
Flowers are yellow to orange and mini hibiscus like
Flowers used in lei making
Medicinal: flowers used during pregnancy and child birth
Flower buds used as a laxative
Indigenous
Sea level to 4000'
Clustering lace fern groundcover up to 3'
Full sun to partial shade; likes water
In full sun the stems of the fronds turn more reddish and fronds turn a lighter green.
Lace fern with delicate tripinnate fronds.
Fronds used in lei
Brown reddish dye made from old fronds
Polynesian Introduced
Sea level to lowland forest
Clumping groundcover shrub up to 4'+; spreads by rhizomes
Full sun to partial shade
Very intricately lobed shiny green leaves
Very intricate white flowers with long stamens at the end of tall stalks
Dies off during winter months and comes back spring into summer.
Pia the Hawaiian arrowroot is a starch.
Tubers were grated, soaked, dried, and ground to make a starchy flour
Pia flour was mixed with coconut milk and sugar cane juice then baked to make haupia
Indigenous / Polynesian Introduced
Sea level to 2000'
Tree up to 30'
Full sun; Low water; wind and salt tolerant
Light yellow hibiscus like flowers with a maroon center.
Flowers fade to a purplish pink by the afternoon
Flowers turn to brown 5 sided seed pods
Flowers used in lei making
Prized dark purple hardwood used for calabashes and bowls
Indigenous
Sea Level
Crawling / climbing groundcover vine
Full sun to partial shade
Salt and drought tolerant; soil stabilizer for erosion control
Hawaiian beach pea; nitrogen fixer
Yellow pea like flowers resembling a butt
Also called 'okolemakili meaning cracked buttocks
Flowers turn to seed pod containing edible lentil sized brown seeds or peas
Entire plant is edible.
Medicinal - Leaves and stems were pounded and applied to wounds and sores
Indigenous
Sea Level
Crawling groundcover shrub
Full sun low water
Salt and drought tolerant; soil stabilizer for erosion control
Opposite round ovalish silvery green leaves, fragrant when crushed. Sage, eucalyptus smell
Small lavender purple orchid-like flowers that turn to round purple brown fruit.
Used in conjunction with other plants medicinally.
Indigenous
Sea Level - 5000'
Perennial shrub up to 5'
Full sun low water
Salt and drought tolerant; soil stabilizer for erosion control
Fuzzy green oblong leaves with serrated edges
Small yellow flower clusters that turn to seed; flower year long
Medicinal - entire plant, roots, stem, leaves, flowers brewed into tea
Anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, asthma, bronchial infections, sore throat
Endemic
Many endemic species in this genus. Each island having several of their own species.
Sandwicensis is found on Hawai’i Island
Sea level to 6000' from rocky shorelines to upland forests
Shrub to small tree up to 15'
Called the “Tree Ākia”
Full sun to partial shade
Also called the “Big Leaf Ākia” it has large leaves compared to other species.
Small fragrant yellow flower clusters.
Flowers turn to small red fruit
Bark was used for cordage.
Used for fishing as a fish toxin
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