In the Garden
Rick Barboza
Nototrichium
sandwicense
synonymLATIN NAME
Nototrichium viride
Description: Compact shrubs that reach heights of about 4 to 6 feet. Their leaves are uniquely shaped and are multi-hued depending on the amount of water they receive. With lots of water they tend to be a brighter green with a touch of red on the margins. On the other hand, when water is scarce, the leaves will become more orange-red-yellow with only a few hints of green, almost Autumnlike. Their flowers aren't as significant individually as they are together when forming a teardrop-shaped flower cluster that is botanically called a spike.
Distribution: Although this species of kulu'i is endemic to all the large islands of Hawaii, this rare form, N. viride, is thought to exist only in the dry forest slopes of the Waianae Mountains.
Kului is available at garden stores such as Home Depot garden shop for less than $6.
Cultural use: The flower spikes and leaves are used in lei-making.
Landscape use and care: As mentioned above, this type of kulu'i has a tight and compact form. This, coupled with the fact that it requires very little watering once established, make it an ideal candidate for a nice medium-sized hedge. The unusual color and shape of the leaves will also make it an eye catcher. Don't let the potted plant fool you, it doesn't like to stay in pots and looks a hundred times better once it is established in the ground.
As far as pests go, the only major one I see are scales. If you have a lot of fast scattering black ants, you might have a scale problem because the ants farm the scales which produce a sugary fungus after feeding on the plant's stems and leaves. You must eliminate the ants as well as the scales. Store-bought pesticides designed specifically for that purpose are fine to use as long as you follow the mixing instructions carefully; the plant's delicate leaves can be sensitive to too much pesticide. Other than that, just put the plants in the ground and admire their beauty.
Did you know?: This plant was once separated into its own species (Nototrichium viride) but has since been clumped under a more common species Nototrichium sandwicense for reasons that only a botany nerd can understand.
This action, however valid it may be, posses a huge threat to the future and existence of this plant. When it was its own species, it was classified as very rare, found only on a single island. Now that it has been clumped with countless other forms of Nototrichium sandwicense throughout the state, it won't seem that rare and loses its dignity. The reason I say that this reclassification may threaten the existence of this plant is because, from a political point of view, it is a lot harder to fund the protection of common plants, even though in this case it is not common at all.
Rick Barboza co-owns Hui Ku Maoli Ola, a native Hawaiian plant nursery. Contact him at 259-6580 or e-mail rickckbarboza@aol.com.Gardening Calendar
