Shrubs ...

Bougainvillea; Puka na wila
Bougainvillea spectabilis
Family: Nyctaginaceae
This is a colorful bougainvillea grown throughout Hawaii. The color is one of many hybrid varieties developed locally from a purple species native to Brazil. The genus was named in honor of French navigator Louis A. deBougainville who discovered the plant. This plant is a woody vine, which can become very aggressive in growth if not controlled. The colored petals of the "flower" are not part of the actual flower but are modified leaves, which surround the true flower, which is small, inconspicuous, and white to yellow colored.


Calliandra; Powder-puff; Lehua-haole
Calliandra inaequilatera
Family: Leguminosae
Subfamily: Mimosoideae
The Hawaiian name describes the flower and the plant's introduction to Hawaii. The flowers resemble the blossom of the lehua and the plants were introduced by the white man. This plant is a native of Bolivia and is considered a shrub; however, it can attain the size of a small tree. Several other species are also grown ornamentally in Hawaii but differ in blossom size and color.

Crown Flower;
Indian Milkweed; Pua-kalaunu
Calotropis gigantea
Family: Asclepediaceae
The mauve flower was a favorite with Queen Liliuokalani. This native of India is used for leis strung either with the whole flower or with the crown only. This milkweed is also a favorite of the monarch butterfly who sips the nectar and uses it as host plant for its caterpillars.




Kauai White Hibiscus; Koki`o ke`oke`o
Hibiscus waimeae subsp. waimeae
Family: Malvaceae
Native to Kauai, this hibiscus is commonly found in Waimea Canyon, and in the moist forests of the western and northern coasts of that island at 800’ to 3900’ elevation. This hibiscus has fairly large white pinwheel shaped flowers that have a sweet fragrance. The staminal column is light green to magenta with magenta filaments. Leaves are ovate shaped and have tiny hairs on both sides. In cultivation the flowers bloom almost continuously and are born towards the ends of branches. Like all hibiscus, the flowers last only for a day. These bloom white in the morning, and turn pink as they fade in the afternoon. It prefers filtered shade in moist but well drained soils, but can survive in full sun with care. This shrub may grow into a 24’- 30’ evergreen tree.




Native White Hibiscus; Koki`o kea
Hibiscus arnottianus subsp. punaluuensis
Family: Malvaceae
This is a photo of a plant at the zoo native to the Big Island, and is similar to the better known O`ahu native that has 4”-10” leaves. This evergreen plants’ oval shaped leaves have a smooth upper surface with blunt toothed edges, red veins and stems. The fragrant large white flowers have slightly ruffled edges, and a pink to red staminal column with red filaments. Prefers filtered shade in moist well drained soils but will tolerate full sun and drier conditions. This evergreen may grow into a 30’ tree but is usually a 15’-20’ shrub with a similar diameter.



Native Yellow Hibiscus;
Pua Aloalo; Ma`o hau hele
Hibiscus brackenridgei
subsp. brackenridgei
Family: Malvaceae
This endangered species was designated as the Hawaii State flower in 1988. It is a shrubby type of plant found in drier areas on all the main islands except Ni`ihau and Ka-ho`olawe. Although flower color is the most obvious distinction in these hibiscus species, notice the equally distinct differences in leaf shape. These leaves are palmate and look like maple leaves, with tiny hairs on both sides. There are two subspecies: brackenridgei is native to the Big Island, Maui, Molokai and Lanai with yellow leaf veins and no spines on branches; mokuleianus is native to O`ahu and Kauai with tiny spines on the branches and leaves with pink veins. They do well in full sun and are drought tolerant. The bright yellow flowers bloom on a flowering stalk that rises above the plant. It is a fast grower and may bloom semi-annually for about 2 months. The plants at the zoo are native to the Big Island.

Native Red Hibiscus; Koki`o `ula`ula
Hibiscus kokio
Family: Malvaceae
This hibiscus is native to the wet forests of O`ahu, Kauai and the Big Island. It was designated as the Hawaii State flower in 1923 and remained so until 1988 when it was replaced by the native yellow. The oval leaf has rounded tooth edges and a waxy surface. The 3"- 4” red flower is pinwheel shaped with a red staminal column and red filaments that contrast with the yellow pollen. This flower was used by Hawaiians to make a light red dye. It will bloom best if planted in full sun. The plants at the zoo are native to the Big Island.





Mamaki
Pipturus albidus
Family: Urticaceae
This native Hawaiian fiber bush lacks the stinging hairs of other nettle family members. Caterpillars of the Kamehameha butterfly eat the red veined leaves. Bark was used to make poor grade tapa and medicine, and leaves for herb tea. The fruits are an unusual white mass with seeds on the surface like strawberries, and have a mild laxative effect.

Purple Allamanda
Family: Apocynaceae
This shrubby climber is an Allamanda hybrid or selection of unknown origin with large ( 4”-6”) deep purple flowers. There is a more common selection known as Allamanda "Cherries Jubilee" which has lighter purple flowers with yellow in the throat. Allamandas come from tropical South America.

Allamanda blanchetii (A. violacea is an old synonym of this species) flowers are similar in color to "Cherries Jubilee" but they are about 2/3 the size of the hybrid. It has long been thought that A. "Cherries Jubilee" might be a hybrid of A. blanchetii and A. cathartica though no one has been able to remake the cross.

Allamanda is in the Apocynaceae family which includes Plumeria, Carissa, Ochrosia, Adenium, Mandevilla, Nerium oleander, Thevetia and others. All plants with milky sap like these (also typical of the Euphorbia family) are potentially toxic - though a few, like Carissa, are not. You can identify this family easily by the trumpet-shaped flowers that have radially symmetrical lobes that are usually twisted like little propeller blades as well as the milky sap. Allamandas have smooth margined leaves in opposite pairs or whorls.

Information provided by Kirsten Albrecht Llamas of Miami, Florida (See Credits & Links page)
Author: Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation - 2004 Garden Globe Award

Snow Bush; Lau-kalakoa
Breynia nivosa var. roseo-picta
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Native to the south Pacific islands, this plant is monoecious in that both male and female flowers are found on the same plant. The leaf color can be variegated in shades of white, pink, maroon, and green that is enhanced when planted in full sunlight. It is commonly used as a hedge plant but it has an extensive and aggressive root system. A sizeable stand of these plants can be formed as new plants arise from the suckering of the roots. Snow Bush; Lau-kalakoa Breynia nivosa var. roseo-picta Family: Euphorbiaceae Native to the south Pacific islands, this plant is monoecious in that both male and female flowers are found on the same plant. The leaf color can be variegated in shades of white, pink, maroon, and green that is enhanced when planted in full sunlight. It is commonly used as a hedge plant but it has an extensive and aggressive root system. A sizeable stand of these plants can be formed as new plants arise from the suckering of the roots.

Vireya; Tropical Rhododendron
Family: Rhododendron
Vireya are rhododendrons, semi-tropical rhododendrons. They grow mostly in the mountainous regions of Malaysia centered in and around the Equatorial zone including Indonesia, the Philippines, Borneo and Papua New Guinea. Of the 850 or so species that make up the genus Rhododendron, almost 300 are classified as vireya.

In their homelands, vireya can be found growing as epiphytes in the moss-encrusted lofts of tree branches, on rocks, or just growing as terrestrials, on the ground. They grow on the edges of forests and in open grasslands, seeking light. They are often the first plants to colonize areas where the original vegetation has been destroyed.

Vireya come in a variety of shapes and sizes ranging from dwarf mats at high altitudes to all sizes of shrubs, and even trees. Some have foliage that could be mistaken for pine needles; some have huge leaf blades a foot long with flowers to match. Their flowers are often fragrant and are the most colorful of all rhododendrons. Vibrant yellows and reds are common. Flower shapes vary from small, open cups to spidery clusters of long tubes.

On the Big Island, vireya hybrids exist in gardens from 4,000-foot elevation down to sea level. It helps to think of them as orchids, with similar needs such as drainage and good air circulation.

Vireya have very fine surface roots, as opposed to a tap root. The most important factor in planting is excellent drainage important. Vireya do not like soggy feet, as they can develop root rot. Raised beds or mound plantings work the best. Because vireya roots run close to the surface, they can heat up from the sun. Covering with several inches of coarse mulch will keep them cool.

Bright light helps to set buds as well as shortening stem internodes. Though vireya love light, dappled light is recommended especially during our peak summer heat. Planting vireya under hapu`u (tree ferns), or near other plantings will give some shade. This will help prevent leaf burn and faded out flowers. Though there are varieties that will take full sun, they do equally well under dappled light.

Pinching off new growth promotes more branching as will deheading the seedpods, which will put the energy back into new growth and bud development rather than into seed production. Fertilizing should be very light. Lacewing insects can be a problem leaving silver spots covering the leaves.

Vireya can be easily rooted from cuttings. Some vireya, depending on the variety, can take as long as a year to root, though the average time is closer to three months. Vireya can also be grown from seed. A single seed pod can contain as many as several hundred seeds. But it may take three to eight years, depending on the variety, before flowering begins, whereas from cuttings that time is cut in half.

In the past few years the number of vireya hybrids coming into the islands has greatly increased. One reason for this is the Hawai`i Chapter ARS. Last year more than 75 new varieties were brought in from Australia. Networking with others in California has also brought in new hybrids.

Information provided by Sherla Bertelmann and Richard Marques - owners of Pacific Island Nursery, a mail-order nursery located in Kea`au, specializing in vireya rhododendrons. They are members of the Hawai`i Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. (See Credits & Links page).

Wild Poinsettia;
Chaconia; Pride of Trinidad
Warscewiczia coccinea
Family: Rubiaceae
A native of tropical America, this shrub produces large sprays of showy red sepals with tiny yellow flowers. It is the national flower of Trinidad & Tobago.




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