In The Garden Rick Barboza

HUI KU MOALI OLA

Giant rushes perfect for water gardens

Great Bulrush

Description: Giant green-onion-like stalks on steroids, that pretty much sums up the description. Really these are large, beautiful rushes (which are plants that usually send up long slender sheaths on underground rhizomes). These particular rushes send out rounded sheaths with bluish-green stems with no leaves. The stems reach up to 8 feet and are the most striking feature of this plant. The flowers are made up of several brown spikelets that hang from the tips of the plant.

Distribution: These are indigenous plants that are native to Hawaii as well as other parts of the world. Here, they are naturally found in fresh- or saltwater marshes from near sea level to about 3,500 feet in elevation on Oahu, Molokai, Niihau, Kauai and Hawaii.

Landscape use and care: These plants are perfect for people who have water features or enjoy potted water plants. They can be planted into regular gardens, but need daily watering. Akaakai thrive in full sun and attract few pests.

Cultural uses: These aren't the most durable of rushes, like makaloa, but bundles of akaakai were used as roof thatching for houses or were woven together into temporary mats or to form the underlying layers of bedding.

Additional info: Other names for this plant include: kaluha (numerous wetland plants are called this), akaakai naku, naku, nanaku and neki.