Planting a native Hawaiian garden has become a hobby for some folks, a mission for others (who insist on only natives in their yard) and a growing trend.

For Patty Kupchak of Kailua, it was a connection to the flora and fauna she saw while hiking with the Sierra Club that got her interested in native plants.

Kupchak has been cultivating native plants since the mid-'70s, and now enjoys red and yellow ohia, mountain naupaka and ho'awa shrubs in her yard.

“;I grow them for my own enjoyment,”; said Kupchak. “;They belong here, and why not plant them here. If you plant the right plants, you don't have to water or fertilize them because they're where they're supposed to grow.”;

Her favorite? The ohia trees.

According to Rick Barboza, owner of Hui Ku Maoli Ola, a native plant nursery on 77 acres in Haiku Valley, natives make sense for the landscape here.

Native Hawaiian plants are those that existed in Hawaii before humans arrived—arriving via wind, water and wing—and managed to grow and adapt here.

There are four categories for native plants: endangered, endemic, indigenous and Polynesian-introduced.

Endangered plants, like the native Hawaiian gardenia na'u, are so low in numbers that they are in danger of becoming extinct. Endemic means found only in Hawaii, while indigenous means found growing in Hawaii but also in other areas like the South Pacific islands.

The koki'o kea (a fragrant white hibiscus with dark red staminal columns) is endemic, as is the state flower. The official flower of Oahu, the ilima, a dense bush offering delicate orange flowers that bloom all year long, is indigenous.

Polynesian-introduced plants include kalo, also known as taro, with its large heart-shaped leaves, ko (or sugar cane) and the hala, milo and kou trees.

Contrary to what some people think, many native plants are easy to plant and grow, said Barboza, and offer a great deal of variety.

Some, like pohuehue (a native beach morning glory), make good ground cover for slopes, while others, like the orange, red, pink and yellow kokio (native hibiscus), offer decorative color and could easily replace non-native hibiscus. The akiohala grows tall quickly, offering beautiful, purple hibiscus blooms.

For fragrance, pohinahina offer fragrant leaves, while the naio gives off a spicy scent similar to sandalwood.

“;Basically, most native plants are easy to grow if they would have naturally been found there in the past,”; said Barboza. “;They're very harmonious, not selfish like the recently introduced plants.”;

Strawberry guavas, for instance, send out chemicals to prevent other plants from germinating, and tend to take over an area quickly.

Pohinahina, ilima and 'ohai are easy to grow in dry and sunny areas like Kaimuki or Ewa, according to Barboza. For wetter neighborhoods like Nuuanu or Waiahole valley, Barboza recommends native hibiscus, palapalai ferns and koa.

“;Your best bet to growing healthy native plants is to learn about where they occur naturally and try to replicate that in your yard,”; said Barboza.

Talk with the grower, he said, and ask questions. Overwatering is the No. 1 reason many natives don't make it in the yard.

Barboza's mission is to revive the growth of native plants as part of Hawaii's natural history and culture. Hawaii, after all, is the endangered species capital of the world, he said, a sad distinction.

Hui Ku Maoli Ola offers as many as 150 varieties of native Hawaiian plants, including 45 that are endangered. They are available at the nursery and at Home Depot in Hawaii.

The Manoa Heritage Center, a 3.5-acre garden, showcases more than 100 varieties of native Hawaiian plants.

A winding pathway meanders past a rare munroidendron (endemic to Hawaii) as well as lehua, with bright red clusters of flowers, several varieties of white hibiscus, kupukupu ferns, naupaka and lo'ulu fan palms.

The state flower, the ma'o hau hele, grows tall and strong, full of yellow hibiscus blooms.

This garden, which surrounds a Hawaiian heiau and the historic home of Sam and Mary Cooke, is open to the public for tours.

“;Every plant has a story,”; said Anthony Ortiz, who takes care of the gardens at Manoa.

Hui Ku Maoli Ola donates plants to the Manoa Heritage Center and, in turn, is able to take cuttings from the garden there.

While growing these non-native tropicals is OK, invasive species are a concern because they tend to crowd out native plants in the natural environment, said Barboza.

The native gardenia, na'u, for instance, can be a replacement for gardenias like tiare. Only one tree is left in the wild on Oahu, while a handful more can be found on Lanai. Planting one in your garden could help this species survive.