In the Garden
Rick Barboza
Hauheleula
HUI KU MAOLI OLA Latin: Kokia drynarioides
Hauheleula is a beautiful hibiscus tree with large maple-like leaves and gorgeous salmon-colored flowers. This plant can be quite tall for a hibiscus, reaching heights of 25 feet-plus.Distribution: This federally listed endangered tree is endemic to the island of Hawaii where it is found in the upper dry forest and the a'a lava fields of North Kona. It is extremely rare in the wild with only about four or five plants remaining.
Cultural uses: A pinkish dye can be made from the flowers of this plant and a dye derived from its bark can be used to color fishnets.
Landscape use and care: This magnificent tree, if available, should be planted in more yards and gardens. Mature trees bloom profusely from late summer to early fall. Good drainage is key for this plant to thrive, and it requires little to no watering once established. We have a variegated version of this plant doing very well in the ground at our nursery in fairly poor, but dry soil.
My neighbor in Waimanalo also has one that is absolutely jamming and looking great. The soil there is also dry but sandy which allows for good drainage; then again, his thumb is greener than Lake Wilson covered in Salvinia molesta.
Occasionally, white flies accumulate on the undersides of the leaves. Store-bought pesticides should solve that with no harm to the plant as long as the directions are followed. Try and stay away from oil-based pesticides as these may burn the leaves.
If you notice leaves crinkling with soft, white powdery mass at the base and lots of ants, those are mealy bugs. The ants farm the mealy bugs to harvest a sugary substance they secrete while feeding on the plant. Kill the mealy bugs by smashing them, or cut off the affected portion of the plant. After that, get rid of the ants with pesticides and that should remedy the problem.
Also: Kokia is an endemic genus to Hawaii represented by four different species: Kokia drynarioides from the Big Island; Kokia kauaiensis from Kauai, also endangered; Kokia cookei from Molokai, often referred to as the rarest plant in the world because it only exists as grafted clones to the other two species mentioned above; and Kokia lanceolata from Oahu, last documented in 1888 near Koko Head. It is believed to be extinct.
Rick Barboza co-owns Hui Ku Maoli Ola, a Native
Hawaiian plant nursery, with Matt Schirman. Contact
him at 259-6580 or e-mail rickbarboza@hawaii.rr.com.Gardening Calendar
In the Garden runs Fridays in Today.
