Even though wreaths made of native plants do not have the classic holiday scents, they do capture the bounty and beauty of our landscapes during hoʻoilo (wet season). In 'Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, lei can mean a garland or a wreath. Therefore, many principles in lei-making can be applied to wreath-making. … [Read more...] about How to Make Native Holiday Wreaths
Identify Plants Like A Pro: Evaluating and Ranking Plant ID Apps
Accurate and timely identification of unfamiliar plant species plays an integral part in the early detection of spreading or newly emerging invasive weeds. After all, it's crucial to know the species, especially when control measures are needed. A plant ID app is any app that takes a picture of a … [Read more...] about Identify Plants Like A Pro: Evaluating and Ranking Plant ID Apps
Top 10 Fire-Resistant Plants for Hawaiʻi
Wildfires in Hawaiʻi used to be extremely rare as the only sources of ignition were eruptions and dry lightning strikes. Therefore, our native ecosystems are especially vulnerable to fire disturbance. Unfortunately, modern land use change has resulted in the extensive spread of fire-prone grasses … [Read more...] about Top 10 Fire-Resistant Plants for Hawaiʻi
Canoe Plants
Mea kanu (plants, crops) that sustained Hawaiians for 1,500 years Although the landscapes within an ahupuaʻa would have varied depending on available resources, the cultivated plants listed above were near constant throughout the islands. Some of these important plants were already here when … [Read more...] about Canoe Plants
Bele
AKA: edible hibiscus, Tongan spinach Commonly known as bele, Abelmoschus manihot is a superfood everyone should grow. It’s so easy to cultivate that even those without a green thumb should be successful. This species was once in the Hibiscus genus. While the flowers look similar, bele flowers … [Read more...] about Bele
Barbas de Indio (Andropogon bicornis)
In 2013, the introduced grass Barbas de Indio (Andropogon bicornis) was found naturalizing near Lava Tree State Park outside Pāhoa, Hawaiʻi. It grew in an area cleared for utility lines through mixed native/non-native ‘ōhi‘a. Likely, the plant had been established for some time, but amidst the many … [Read more...] about Barbas de Indio (Andropogon bicornis)
