Ornamentals and Flowers Jan. 2010 OF-49
Red Plants for Hawai‘i Landscapes
Melvin Wong Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences
his publication focuses on plants The plants with red coloration having red as their key color. In shown here are just a few of the pos- theT color wheel (see Wong 2006), sibilities. Their selection is based red is opposite to (and therefore the on my personal aesthetic preference “complement” of) green, which is the and is intended to give you a start in dominant color in landscapes because developing your own list of plants to it is the color of most foliage. The provide red highlights to a landscape. plants selected for illustration here Before I introduce a new plant can create exciting variation when species into my garden or landscape, I juxtaposed with green in landscapes want to know that it is not invasive in of tropical and subtropical regions. Hawai‘i. Some plants have the ability Lots of red can be used in landscapes to escape from their original plant- because equal amounts of red will bal- ing area and spread into disturbed or ance equal amounts of green. natural areas. Invasive plant species Many plants that can exist in a can establish populations that survive tropical or subtropical environment without human help and can expand do not necessarily give the feeling of a into nearby and in some cases even “tropical” theme. Examples, in my opinion, are plumerias, distant areas. These plants can outcompete native and bougainvilleas, rainbow shower trees, ixoras, and hibiscuses. agricultural species, causing negative impacts. Groups of plants that I believe provide more of a tropi- Luckily for plant enthusiasts in Hawai‘i, scientists cal look are palms, heliconias, gingers, bamboos, ferns, have developed a screening tool, the Hawaii-Pacific Weed bromeliads, birds of paradise, tī, orchids, members of the Risk Assessment system (HPWRA), which can predict a Araceae and Marantacea families, certain aquatic plants, plant species’ potential to become invasive in Hawai‘i or some tropical vines such as the passion flowers, and large other Pacific Islands. The HPWRA system uses a series ficus trees with aerial roots. Specific plants for this purpose of 49 questions about a plant species’ geographic origin, include Ficus pseudopalma, Ludovia lancifolia, Osmuxylon biology, ecology, undesirable traits, and pest status else- lineare, Piper magnificum(not yet assessed for invasive po- where to predict whether it has the potential to become tential; alternate name Piper pseudolindenii), and Begonia invasive. Based on the score, the species is rated low risk, nelumbifolia (New Guinea impatiens). Monocotyledons in “evaluate” (needs more information), or high risk. Species particular lend a primordial flavor. rated high risk have characteristics that may allow them
Published by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in coopera- tion with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Andrew G. Hashimoto, Director/Dean, Cooperative Extension Service/CTAHR, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822. An equal opportunity/affirmative action institution providing programs and services to the people of Hawai‘i without regard to race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, dis- ability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, or status as a covered veteran. CTAHR publications can be found on the Web site
Aechmea bracteata
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Aechmea compacta
Alpinia purpurata (assessed “Evaluate” in 2002) Alpinia purpurata ‘Tahitian’
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Anthurium andreanum ‘Madame Butterfly’
Anthurium andreanum ‘Obake’
Ardisia crispa (not assessed in Hawai‘i, but considered an environmental weed in Australia. According to A Tropi- cal Garden Flora, Ardisia crenata is one of two widely planted Ardisias in Hawai‘i and has been misidentified as Ardisia crispa. Ardisia crenata is invasive and should not be planted.
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Clerodendron splendens
Cordyline fruticosa ‘Heather’s Spray’ Cordyline fruticosa ‘Johnny Noble’
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Cordyline fruticosa ‘Kalama’ Cordyline fruticosa ‘Kilauea Iki’
Costus barbatus
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Cordyline fruticosa ‘Mahealani’ Cordyline fruticosa ‘Norman Kawauchi’
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Costus erythrophyllus Cyrtostachys renda (rated “Evaluate”)
Guzmania ‘Torch’
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Heliconia angusta ‘Holiday’ Heliconia caribaea ‘Black Magic’ (while this cultivar has not been assessed, the species is low risk)
Guzmania lingulata
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Heliconia caribaea ‘Purpurea’ Heliconia pendula ‘Red Waxy’
Heliconia psittacorum ‘Black Cherry’ Heliconia psittacorum ‘Lady Di’
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Heliconia psittacorum ‘St. Vincent Red’
Heliconia psittacorum ‘Red Square’
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Heliconia psittacorum x H. spathocircinatta ‘BB Red’ Ipomoea horsfalliae (low risk)
Impatiens hawkeri ‘New Guinea’
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Neoregelia ‘Scarlet Charlotte’
Warszewiczia coccinea
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