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In The Garden
Rick Barboza
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Fragrant ohai flowers make a lovely lei
Ohai
Sesbania tomentosa
Endemic, endangered: All of Hawaii, including some Northwestern Hawaiian islands
Description: Oh, hi! Actually, it's ohai but the name sounds the same, not to be confused with another Hawaiian plant that sounds like an English greeting: Oh, hello! (ohelo).
The many forms of ohai are all stunning in their own way. Most have evolved to have extremely soft, silvery-pubescent (soft with short hairs), pinnate leaves that help reflect sunlight and retain moisture in its harsh environment. This form, however, has darker green leaves that appear to be more waxy, with a little golden tomentose (the small hair-like covering from which the plant derives its species name).
The plant grows close to the ground, in a form similar to that of the Moomomi form from Molokai. The stem-tip leaves are highly aromatic when in full sun, and if enough are planted, you can smell them from quite a distance. Striking pea flowers form as clusters under the leaves, with each flower 1 to 2 inches long. The flower's yellow color is what sets it apart from other ohai, which range from red to pink and orange. But remember, it's the leaf clusters at the stem tips that smell good, not the flowers.
Distribution: All forms are registered as the same species and all are listed as endangered. This form comes from the arid, rocky coastline of Apua point on the island of Hawaii.
Cultural uses: The flowers of ohai are strung into lei, either front to back, side to side (facing forward, keel down) or with the keel of the flowers alternating up and down. Actually, it doesn't matter how you arrange the flowers; as long as you are wearing this lei you'll be "da talk of da party." Besides looking awesome, if you hold the flower by its stem and hit it on the top of your other hand, a few drops of sweet nectar will come out that you can lick up - da buggah ono!
Landscape uses and care: This plant will require full sun with minimal watering and well-drained soil. Watch out for aphids and spider-mites. If you notice these, smoosh 'em with your fingers, shoot them off with water or spray them with pesticides. This rare but very gorgeous plant is a must-have plant and is available at Home Depot stores or at our Kaneohe nursery for about $9.
Tasty tidbit: Sorry to say, but the plant known to most of us as ohai alii is not native - in fact, it's not even a Polynesian introduction. When it was brought to the islands, it was given that name because its leaves resemble those of the real ohai and its flowers are red and yellow - the colors of the alii, or royalty.
People get mad at me when I tell them that: "Whatchu mean? My grandmadda had dat plant in her yard in Kaimuki since she was small, an den! Da buggah gotta be native!" Sorry, it's not, and sooner or later perhaps we'll all be able to tell truly native plants from "adopted" Hawaiian plants.
Rick Barboza co-owns Hui Ku Maoli Ola, a native Hawaiian plant nursery, with Matt Schirman. Contact him at 295-7777 or e-mail
Rick.CK.Barboza@gmail.com