In the Garden
Naio
HUI KU MAOLI OLA
Latin name: Myoporum sandwicense Naio is also known as false or bastard sandalwood because the scent resembles that of regular sandalwood when cut or burned; however, it doesn't retain the scent as long.It was often placed in bundles of sandalwood when orders from Asia needed to be filled, due to low sandalwood numbers.
Description: A shrub or tree with dark green, glabrous leaves and tiny whitish-pink flowers that emit a sandalwoodlike fragrance.
Distribution: An indigenous plant found in the coastal dry forest up to the subalpine dry forest.
Cultural uses: The hard wood of this plant was used in the construction of houses, spears and other tools.
Landscape uses and care: This extremely hardy plant thrives in full sun with minimal watering. It also does well as a specimen plant or as a medium-size hedge.
Rick Barboza co-owns Hui Ku Maoli Ola, a native Hawaiian plant nursery, with Matt Schirman. "In the Garden" runs Fridays.
Gardening Calendar
In the Garden runs Fridays in Today.
