In The Garden Guest Writers

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Rare plant’s fragrance has hint of coconut

Description: A large shrub 4 to 12 feet tall (although some in their natural habitat can reach 20 feet), with light green leaves and light tan trunk. Tiny, clear to opaque yellow resin balls develop at stem tips prior to the formation of new leaves. Small flowers about 2 inches across resemble puakenikeni in petal shape. Their scent is like that of the larger bushy, non-native gardenia, with a hint of coconut oil. It smells good enough to eat, but I wouldn't recommend that -- it tastes terrible.

Once the flowers are pollinated, a large green fruit about the size of a golf ball forms. Within the ripened fruit, brilliant yellow-orange pulp surrounds a hard seed capsule filled with an even a richer-toned yellow-orange pulp, housing about 100 seeds.

HUI KU MAOLI OLA

Distribution: This extremely rare plant is one of many native Hawaiian plants on the federal list of endangered species. They were once believed to have existed on all of the main islands in the dry forest, but now only two plants remain in the wild on Oahu, one on the Big Island, a few on Molokai, a handful on Lanai and a few more on Maui -- numbering about 15 to 20 plants in total. Because this is a species endemic to Hawaii, these are the only plants left in the world.

Cultural uses: The pulp was highly valued for making a rich yellow dye for alii. The color is so unique that it was called na'u, after the plant from which it is derived. The light-colored wood was also used for making house posts for people of high status, and the fragrant flowers were strung into beautiful leis. These days, this would be the perfect flower for women to use as a hair ornament, behind the ear, to make them look even more beautiful.

The color of the na'u dye resembles the color of the setting sun, and children would play a game when the sun was setting: Whoever could start the word na'u first and hold it ("na'uuuuuuuuuuu") until the sun set was the winner.

Landscape use and care: This must-have plant looks great as a hedge (if enough are available) or as a specimen plant that stands alone in all its glory. Treat this plant the way many people treat their puakenikeni: They put it where everyone can see it! This plant deserves to be shown off.

For a limited time this plant is available at Home Depot for about $20, which sounds pricey, but considering how rare and important it is, the cost is well worth it. We also have some at our nursery for those who would rather stay on the Windward side.

Full sun is best; it will grow faster, stay bushy and flower most. Daily watering is fine if you have well-drained soil; if not, wait until the surrounding soil dries out before watering again. Once the plant is established, reduce watering to once every two to four days, or when needed.

Also: Another name for na'u is nanu. There are actually two species of gardenia native to Hawaii in addition to the non-native one mentioned above. Gardenia manii, another endangered plant found only on Oahu, and Gardenia remyi, not listed as endangered, but still very rare, is found on Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Hawaii.

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