Family: Fabaceae
Canavalia sericea (silky jackbean) is a coastal vine native to tropical regions of the Indo-Pacific, including parts of Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. It is easily recognized by its thick, creeping stems, large three-part leaves covered in soft, silky hairs, and showy pink to purple pea-like flowers. The plant produces long, flattened pods containing large seeds. Silky jackbean is often found growing naturally along beaches and coastal dunes, where it helps stabilize sand and tolerate salt spray. In some regions, it has been used as a groundcover, for soil improvement, or occasionally as an ornamental because of its attractive foliage and flowers.
While Canavalia sericea is well adapted to harsh coastal environments, it can spread aggressively outside its native range under favorable conditions. Its vigorous growth and ability to form dense mats may allow it to outcompete low-growing native coastal plants, potentially altering dune and shoreline habitats. Because coastal ecosystems in Hawaiʻi are especially vulnerable, care should be taken to avoid planting silky jackbean near natural areas, and existing populations should be monitored to ensure they do not spread beyond intended locations.
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Naturalized on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island
- Reported as a weed of unspecified impacts
- Other Canavalia species are invasive
- Reproduces by seeds
- Seeds dispersed by water and intentionally by people
- Missing information on important aspects of this plants reproductive biology limit the accuracy of the risk prediction
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite naturalization and weediness, no confirmed reports of negative impacts were found
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Ornamental
- Distribution appears to be limited to coastal habitats with high light levels and sandy, well-drained soils
- Aside from water and intentional cultivation, large seeds unlikely to be accidentally dispersed
