Native Plants at Leeward Community College Campus
Selected Plants for Landscaping based on Our Experience
Priscilla S. Millen, Professor of Botany, Leeward Community College and
Frani Okamoto, Horticulturalist
(from an advanced training event, O'ahu MGs, August 2011)
Environmental and Floristic Conditions at LCC
Leeward Community College experiences intense sun and heat during the summer. This region once supported dry land shrub and woodland flora, which are now mostly absent and altered on the islands. This dryland shrub and woodland had a great variety of plants, many of which became dormant during the hot season. There were many fragrant flowering plants, with interesting leaf and texture elements. It’s difficult to image today the experience of this rich flora because it is now covered the a few invasive such as koa haole and California grass.
State of Natives Today
Hawaiian endemic plants are some of the most endangered flora in the world, with about 50% at risk. Many non-native plants are commonly thought to be natives but are actually Polynesian introductions such as kalo, ti, noni, ‘awa or recent introductions such as plumeria, gingers and non-native hibiscus.
Horticultural Practices at LCC
- Drip or spray irrigation is needed to keep plants attractive and producing seed throughout the year.
- Frequently of irrigation: 1-2 times per week, deep watering, well drained soil at the back of the campus requires more attention to watering
- Ground covers and mulches greatly enhance native plant growth.
- Little to no fertilizer is used as they tend to produce lush vegetative growth which attracts insects and disease organisms.
- Little to no chemical treatments are used for disease and insect control. We primarily use horticultural soaps and oils to control them.
- New plants diseases and insect pests pose a challenge for us, however in general if good plant conditions are maintained, healthy plants eventually come back with some resistance.
- One notable pest is the Chinese Rose Beetle. One effective control is to plant under night lights.
- Natives tend to transplant with some difficulty. Younger plants to better than older ones. Sometimes they “sit” for a year before developing new growth.
- Propagation is well determined for many native plants, but they are slow growing compared to the more popular non-native plants.
- Homeowners, landscapers and nurseries must know and recognize the different environmental conditions that native plants require. For example, plants from mountain areas usually do not do well is dry areas.
Uses of Native Plants in Landscaping
Native plants tend to grow slowly but if they are situated in an attractive way, allowing for future growth, they may result in lower maintenance costs. They can be effectively combined with non-native plants with similar cultural conditions and requirements. Not all native plants are conducive to cultivation or use in landscaping.
Our Plants
Native Ferns
Palapalai
Microlepia strigosa
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Microlepia_strigosa_strigosa
‘Okupukupu, (sword fern)
Nephrolepis exaltata
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Nephrolepis_exaltata_hawaiiensis
Native Ground Covers
Pa’u o hi’iaka (skirt of Hi’iaka)
Jacquemontia ovalifolia subsp. Sandwicensis
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Jacquemontia_ovalifolia_sandwicensis
Akulikuli
Sesuvium portulacastrum
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sesuvium_portulacastrum
Hunakai
Ipomoea imperati
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Ipomoea_imperati
Streamside and Pond Plants
‘Ihi ihi laukea
Marsilea villosa
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Marsilea_villosa
‘Ahu’awa
Cyperus javanicus
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Cyperus_javanicus
Ae’ae (water hyssop, bacopa)
Bacopa monnieri
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Bacopa_monnieri
Grasses, Grass-like plants, and Sedges
Pili Grass
Heteropogon contortus
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Heteropogon_contortus
Uki uki
Dianella sandwicensis
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Dianella_sandwicensis
Carex
Carex wahuensis
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Carex_wahuensis_wahuensis
Hina hina
Artemisia mauiensis
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Artemisia_mauiensis
Pua kala
Argemone glauca
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Argemone_glauca
Shrubs
‘Ilima
Sida fallax
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sida_fallax
Nanu, nau (native gardenia)
Gardenia brighamia
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Gardenia_brighamii
Hala pepe
Pleomele spp.
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/search/?query=Pleomele+
O’ahu hala pepe
Pleomele forbesiiforbesii
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pleomele_forbesii
Kauila
Colobrina oppositifolia
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Colubrina_oppositifolia
Naupaka kuahiwi
Scaevola gaudichaudii
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Scaevola_gaudichaudiana
Koki’o ke’o ke’o (white hibiscus)
Hibiscus arnottianus ssp immaculatus
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Hibiscus_arnottianus_immaculatus
Hibiscus arnottianus, ssp waimae
Hibiscus kokio
Hibiscus kokio subsp. Kokio
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Hibiscus_kokio_kokio
Hibiscus kokio ‘ula ‘ula
Hibiscus kokio
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Hibiscus_kokio
Koki’o ula (Clay’s hibiscus)
Hibiscus clayi
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Hibiscus_clayi
Naio (false sandalwood)
Myoporum sandwicense
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Myoporum_sandwicense
Naio papa (false sandalwood, low growing form)
Myoporum sandwicense variety papa (or Winona’s naio)
‘Ohai
Sesbania tomentosa
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sesbania_tomentosa
Maua
Xylosoma hawaiiense
A’ali’i
Dodonaea viscosa
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Dodonaea_viscosa
Ho’awa
Pittosporum species
Pittosporum glabrum
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pittosporum_glabrum
Pittosporum hosmeri
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pittosporum_hosmeri
Alahe’e
Psyrax odorata
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Psydrax_odorata
‘Akia (fish poison plant)
Wikstroemia uva-ursi
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Wikstroemia_uva-ursi
Aulula (cabbage-on-a-stick)
Brighamia insignis
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Brighamia_insignis
Akoko
Chamaesyce celestriodes
Pohinahina (beach vitex)
Vitex rotundifolia
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Vitex_rotundifolia
Ulei
Osteomeles anthillidifolia
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Osteomeles_anthyllidifolia
Kului
Nototrichium sandwichense
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Nototrichium_sandwicense
‘Aweo’weo, ‘Aheahea
Chenopodium oahuense
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Chenopodium_oahuense
Moa
Psilotum nudum
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Psilotum_nudum
'Industrial Strength' Plants for Tough Places
Anapanapa
Colubrina asiatica
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Colubrina_asiatica
‘Ilie’e
Plumbago zeylanica
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Plumbago_zeylanica
Native Trees
Loulu
Pritchardia Spp.
Pritchardia martii
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pritchardia_martii
Lama
Diospyros sandwicensis
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Diospyros_sandwicensis
Lonomea, Aulu
Sapindus oahuensis
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sapindus_oahuensis
Koai’a
Acacia koaia
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Acacia_koaia
Koa
Acacia koa
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Acacia_koa
Hala
Pandanus tectorius
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pandanus_tectorius
Polyscias racemosa (formerly Munroidendron racemosum)
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Polyscias_racemosa
O’hia
Metrosideros polymorpha
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Metrosideros_polymorpha
Metrosideros macropus
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Metrosideros_macropus
Metrosideros tremuloides
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Metrosideros_tremuloides
Koki’o (tree hibiscus)
Kokia drynariodes
http://www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Kokia_drynarioides