r‘Ilima Wiliwili ‘A’ali’i ‘Ōhelo Hapu’u ‘Ōhi’a Lehua Koa Kona Soil and Water Conservation District Kona’s Native Hawaiian Plants Business Name Save Hawaii’s Native Ecosystem Hawaii’s vegetation is made up of more than 1,100 One simple way of helping our native forest is to very special species, most of which occur solely here in the propagate native plants. You can help by purchasing native islands. Many of them evolved in Hawaii from ancestors who plants and cultivating them on your property. This will in- arrived on these isolated islands millennia ago, and are found crease the chance they will survive in Hawaii for future gen- nowhere else on Earth. If these plants were to disappear, they erations to enjoy. would be gone forever, never to be seen by future generations. Another way to help the native vegetation is by re- Sadly, the extinction of many native Hawaiian species has al- ducing populations of alien species, especially ones that are ready occurred, and many other species are traveling down the killing native flora and taking over their habitats. same path. At current estimates, Hawaii’s native species This publication was written in order to promote the make up more than one third of the United State’s Endangered use of native plants for ecological restoration and landscaping, Species List. The cause of this loss is a mixture and to help landowners choose species that are suit- of many factors, mostly the invasion of alien able for their property. It includes many of the plant species and habitat destruction. species that occur naturally in North and South Throughout history many things have Kona. Some of these plants can be purchased at been altered in Hawaii’s landscape. The arrival retail nurseries, and some may already be growing of humans, starting with the Polynesians, created on your property. problems for many native species. When hu- The climate zone maps on the next two mans arrived, they brought with them the com- pages can help you determine which native plant forts of home. This included plants and animals species are suitable for your location. To some ex- they were accustomed to in their homeland. tent, different soils found within a given climate People introduced pigs, goats, cattle, agricultural zone will support similar plant species. However, crops, trees, and other seemingly harmless alien properties located on very young lava flows with life forms. Other alien species were introduced very thin organic soils are suitable for growing only accidentally. a sparse cover of a few species. More information Feral pigs damage many acres of native Help save Kona’s native about correlating native species with specific soil forest. They plow the native understory, killing plants types will be available soon from NRCS. many of the plants. Also, they cause extensive To use the map, locate your property and damage to hapu’u (native tree ferns). Pigs knock down tree determine the number of the zone in which it is located. The ferns and eat the starchy inner core. Clearings created by pigs plants shown in the brochure are numbered as to their suitable promote the growth of weeds and leave soil susceptible to ero- habitats. sion. Threatened and endangered species can be bought Rats feed on seeds of many native plants, preventing and planted in yards for landscaping. However, commercially the plants from reproducing. Alien insects bore into twigs and -bought specimens are not to be used in large-scale restoration eat native seeds. Weeds are a major problem in the islands. projects without a permit. Many introduced trees, shrubs, grass, vines, and ferns are very competitive against native species. Some grasses and ferns promote wildfires that can wipe out a native forest in hours. USDA-NRCS Zone Map Zone Description Symbol Arid A very hot, dry zone found along part of the Kona coast. Plants must tolerate drought and salt spray. 1 Mostly shrubs, grasses, and vines. Dry Hot and dry. Shrubs, grasses, vines, and widely- 2 spaced small trees live here. Moderately Dry Hot and dry, but able to support many shrubs, 3 grasses, vines, and a fairly dense stand of small to medium size trees. Seasonal Mesic “Mesic” means a moderately moist climate. This 4 zone is warm and dry, but moist for part of the year. Many trees, shrubs, grasses, vines, and herbs thrive in this zone. Moist Mesic This zone supports a mix of plants that live in moist 5 and dry environments. It can support a dense and very diverse forest with fairly tall trees. Wet The rain forest zone, with very large trees, dense 6 tree ferns, and many different species. Moist Mesic Transition from rain forest to high elevation drier 7 forest. Koa trees become more common, while tree ferns are smaller and less numerous. Seasonal Mesic A fairly dry environment that can support large koa 8 and ohia trees, along with sandalwood and mamane. Moderately Dry Dry and cool, with medium sized koa, mamane, 9 sandalwood, and shrubs. Dry Very dry and cool, with small mamane, shrubs, and grasses. 10 Arid Very dry and cold. Plants must be able to withstand 11 winter drought and frost. Vegetation is short and very sparse. Anaeho’omalu North Kona 10 2 1 Kaupulehu 1 2 2 1 2 3 5 7 8 Keahole Kaloko Hualalai 10 1 2 3 5 6 Honokohau 4 Kailua-Kona Holualoa 10 9 7 8 Keauhou 5 6 10 9 Kainaliu 4 7 6 3 8 11 Kealakekua Bay 9 10 6 7 5 4 5 3 9 3 6 10 11 Kealakekua South Kona Kealakekua Bay Captain Cook 10 Mauna Loa 7 9 4 8 3 Honaunau 5 6 3 11 Ho’okena 6 7 10 Kona Paradise 8 3 6 2 9 7 8 5 Papa 4 7 2 Miloli’i 5 1 3 2 4 Ocean View 1 ~ Plant Kona’s Native Beauties~ Indigenous/Endemic to Hawaii Indigenous: Native (arrived in Hawaii without human intervention) species that occur in Hawaii Aa and other places. PICTURE of PLANT Endemic: Native (arrived in Hawaii without human intervention) species that are unique to Ha- Aa waii. Common Name Endangered: Species that are very few in number and at risk of becoming extinct. Scientific Name Climate Zone(s) Shrubs `Ākia `Ākala `A`ali`i Wikstromia sandwicensis Rubus hawaiensis Dodonaea viscosa ‘Aheahea Wikstromia pulcherrima Chenopodium oahuense 6,7,8 3,4,5 1,2,3,4,5, 8,9 2,3 Āulu Clermontia Papala kepau Clermontia clermontioides Na`ena`e Pisonia sandwicensis Clermontia hawaiiensis ‘Ohai Pisonia brunoniana Clermontia parviflora Dubautia ciliolata Sesbania tomentosa 5,7 Clermontia montis-loa Dubautia scabra 1,2 5,6,7 8,9,10 `Iliahialo`e, Coast sandalwood `Ilihia `Ilima ‘Ilie’e Santalum ellipticum Cyrtandra platyphylla Sida fallax Plumbago zeylanica 1,2,3 5,6 2,3 1,2,3,4 Kanawao Kōlea lau li`i` Kolokolo kahakai Kolomona Broussaisia arguta Myrsine sandwicensis Senna gaudichaudii Vitex rotundifolia 6 5,6,7 1,2 2,3,4 Kulu’I Ko’oko’olau Ko’oloa’ula Kukaenene Nototrichium sandwicense Bidens menziesii Abutilon menziesii Coprosma ernodeoides 2,3,4 8,9 2,3 9,10 Mint (native) Naupaka kahakai Maiapilo Ma`o hau hele Stenogyne microphylla Scaevola sericea Capparis sandwichiana Hibiscus brackenridgei 1,2,3 4,5 8,9 1,2,3 ‘Ōhelo ‘Ōhelo Pilo ‘Ulei Osteomeles anthyllidifolia Vaccinium calycinum Vaccinium reticulatum Coprosma montana 2,3,9,10 5,6,7 7,8,9,10 7,8,9 Trees A’e ‘Akoko ‘Āla’a Sapindus saponaria Chamaesyce olowaluana Pouteria sandwicensis 4,5 9,10 3,4,5 Hame Alahe’e Hala Hala pepe Antidesma platyphyllum Pandanus tectorius Psydrax odoratum Pleomele hawaiiensis Antidesma pulvinatum 1,2,3,4 3,4,5 3,4 5,6,7 Hau kuahiwi `Iliahi, Sandalwood Kauila, Kauwila, O’a Hō`awa Hibiscadelphus hualalaiensis Santalum paniculatum Alphitonia ponderosa Pittosporum hosmeri 3,4 4,5 4,5,7,8,9 4,5 Kauila, Kauwila Kāwa`u, `Aiwa Keahi Koa Colubrina oppositifolia Ilex anomala Nesoluma polynesicum Acacia koa 2,3,4 6,7 4,5 6,7,8,9 Kōlea lau li’i Kopiko Myrsine lanaiensis Koki`o Koki`o Psychotria hawaiiensis Myrsine lessertiana Hibiscus kokio Kokia drynarioides Psychotria mauiensis 4,5,6,7,9 3,4,5 4 4,5,6,7 Kolokolo mokihana Loulu, Fan palm Lama Melicope clusiifolia Pritchardia affinis Melicope hawaiiensis Kou Diospyros sandwicensis Cordia subcordata Pritchardia schattaueri 4,5,6 2,3,4,5 1, 2, 3, 4, 2 Manono Māmani Māmaki Maua, A‘e Kadua axillaris Sophora chrysophylla Pipturus albidus Xylosma hawaiiense Kadua affinis 2,3,4,7,8,9,10 5,6,7 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 3,4 Naio ‘Ohe ‘Ohe ‘Ōhi‘a lehua Myoporum sandwicense Reynoldsia sandwicensis Tetraplasandra hawaiensis Metrosideros polymorpha 3,4,5,8,9 3,4 4,5,6 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 Uhiuhi Olomea Olopua Wiliwili Caesalpinia kavaiensis Erythrina sandwicensis Perrottetia sandwicensis Nestegis sandwicensis 2,3 6,7 3,4,5 3,4,5 Herbs `Ala`ala wai nui Ko`oko`olau Pua kala Peperomia spp. Bidens micrantha Argemone glauca 4,5,6,7 1,2,3 4,8 Wood rush `Ala`ala wai nui Kaluaha, Pua‘akuhinia Luzula hawaiiensis Plectranthus parviflorus ‘Uki’uki Astelia menziesiana Dianella sandwicensis 7,8,9 2,3 6,7 5,6,7,8,9 Vines and Climbers Hoi kuahiwi Huehue `Ie`ie Kā`e`e Smilax melastomifolia Cocculus orbiculatus Freycinetia arborea Mucuna gigantean 6 1,2,3,4,5 5,6,7 2,3 Kākalaioa Maile Mohihihi Pā‘ūohi`iaka Caesalpinia bonduc Alyxia oliviformis Vigna marina Jacquemontia ovalifolia 4,5 5,6,7 1,2,3 1,2,3 Ferns Hapu`u, Hawaiian tree fern Cibotium chamissoi Asplenium Diplazium Cibotium glaucum Cibotium menziesii Asplenium spp.