In the Garden
Rick Barboza
HUI KU MAOLI OLA
Coastal Lysimachia is available at the Home Depot for a limited time for about $6.
Coastal lysimachia
Latin: Lysimachia mauritiana
A low crawling herbaceous groundcover with light green, succulent leaves and white flower clusters. The leaves emerge radially out from the center giving it a nice shape, while the flower clusters protrude up above the rest of the plant.Distribution: Although very rare, this is the only native Lysimachia today that occurs at low elevations. It is naturally found on coastal cliffs or rocky shorelines on the islands of Niihau, Kauai, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii. Other native members of this genus are generally found in higher mesic to wet forests.
Landscape use and care: This plant looks great planted around large landscape stones or when used as a bedding plant. It doesn't spread far, at about 1 square foot, so space accordingly. Few pests are known to bother this plant, but if some sort of infestation does occur, proper application of store-bought pesticides will not harm the plant.
Cultural uses: Other than using the flower clusters in head lei, there are no other known uses for this plant at this time. In fact we don't even know its Hawaiian name.
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. "In the Garden" runs Fridays.
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