Native plants for Hawaii County, Hawaii

361 native plants recorded in Hawaii County, Hawaii

The USDA plant database has 1,172 plants recorded growing wild in Hawaii County. 361 of them are native to the lower 48, and 633 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 46 wildflowers and herbs, 53 grasses and sedges, 82 shrubs, 15 low woody plants, 129 trees, 36 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 23 of them (6%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Hurricanegrass (Fimbristylis cymosa) is also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Hawaii County

Sun all day in Hawaii County: 22 rated natives

7 grasses and sedges, 6 trees, 5 shrubs, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Oahu riverhemp (Sesbania tomentosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Beach naupaka (Scaevola sericea) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Hawai'i desert-thorn (Lycium sandwicense) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Manyspike flatsedge (Cyperus polystachyos) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Hawaii County: 22 rated natives

7 grasses and sedges, 6 trees, 5 shrubs, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
2. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Oahu riverhemp (Sesbania tomentosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Beach naupaka (Scaevola sericea) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
7. Manyspike flatsedge (Cyperus polystachyos) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
8. Tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Hawaii County: 10 rated natives

5 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Manyspike flatsedge (Cyperus polystachyos) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Naio (Myoporum sandwicense) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · about 15 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Kawelu (Eragrostis variabilis) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · about 3 ft mature · perennial
7. Koa (Acacia koa) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
8. 'ohi'a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · perennial

Heavy clay in Hawaii County: 13 rated natives

6 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Beach naupaka (Scaevola sericea) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Manyspike flatsedge (Cyperus polystachyos) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Seashore dropseed (Sporobolus virginicus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Star sedge (Carex echinata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · perennial
7. Mamani (Sophora chrysophylla) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · moderate growth · perennial
8. Hawai'i hawthorn (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · about 12 ft mature · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Hawaii County: 15 rated natives

6 grasses and sedges, 4 trees, 3 shrubs, 1 vines, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Oahu riverhemp (Sesbania tomentosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Beach naupaka (Scaevola sericea) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Manyspike flatsedge (Cyperus polystachyos) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Seashore dropseed (Sporobolus virginicus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Hawaii County: 15 rated natives

5 shrubs, 4 trees, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 vines, 1 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Oahu riverhemp (Sesbania tomentosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Beach naupaka (Scaevola sericea) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
6. Seashore dropseed (Sporobolus virginicus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
7. Tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
8. Hawai'i desert-thorn (Lycium sandwicense) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Hawaii County: 7 rated natives

5 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 7, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Beach naupaka (Scaevola sericea) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Manyspike flatsedge (Cyperus polystachyos) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Seashore dropseed (Sporobolus virginicus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Star sedge (Carex echinata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Softstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Hawaii County has that most of Hawaii does not

84 natives here are on file in no more than 1 of Hawaii's 5 counties. A few of them:

• Kau silversword (Argyroxiphium kauense): only here
• Hawai'i beggarticks (Bidens hawaiensis): only here
• Lava clermontia (Clermontia calophylla): only here
• Kauai clermontia (Clermontia clermontioides): only here
• Kohala Mountain clermontia (Clermontia drepanomorpha): only here
• 'oha kepau (Clermontia hawaiiensis): only here
• Waipio Valley clermontia (Clermontia kohalae): only here
• Mauna Loa clermontia (Clermontia montis-loa): only here
• Smallflower clermontia (Clermontia parviflora): only here
• Hamakua clermontia (Clermontia pyrularia): only here

Where to start in Hawaii County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Hawaii County gives you the most rated choice (22 plants), and Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 7 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 340 unrated natives too.