Native plants for Maui County, Hawaii

476 native plants recorded in Maui County, Hawaii

The USDA plant database has 1,225 plants recorded growing wild in Maui County. 476 of them are native to the lower 48, and 556 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 68 wildflowers and herbs, 70 grasses and sedges, 136 shrubs, 22 low woody plants, 145 trees, 35 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 26 of them (5%), 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 Maui County

Sun all day in Maui County: 25 rated natives

7 shrubs, 7 trees, 6 grasses and sedges, 3 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 Maui County: 25 rated natives

7 shrubs, 7 trees, 6 grasses and sedges, 3 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 Maui County: 11 rated natives

4 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. 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 Maui County: 13 rated natives

5 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 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. 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. Hawai'ian cotton (Gossypium tomentosum) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Star sedge (Carex echinata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · perennial
8. Mamani (Sophora chrysophylla) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Maui County: 16 rated natives

5 shrubs, 5 grasses and sedges, 4 trees, 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 Maui County: 16 rated natives

6 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'ian cotton (Gossypium tomentosum) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Maui County: 7 rated natives

4 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. 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. Longleaf pondweed (Potamogeton nodosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Maui County has that most of Hawaii does not

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

• Kamalo pritchardia (Pritchardia munroi): only here
• Hiddenpetal Indian mallow (Abutilon eremitopetalum): only here
• Eke silversword (Argyroxiphium caliginis): only here
• Hana Forest silversword (Argyroxiphium grayanum): only here
• Greensword (Argyroxiphium virescens): only here
• Maui wormwood (Artemisia mauiensis): only here
• Bog beggarticks (Bidens conjuncta): only here
• Maui beggarticks (Bidens mauiensis): only here
• Maui reedgrass (Calamagrostis expansa): only here
• Maui clermontia (Clermontia micrantha): only here

Where to start in Maui County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Maui County gives you the most rated choice (25 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 452 unrated natives too.