Family: Poaceae
Brought by the Polynesians to the Hawaiian islands, this canoe plant is often seen in Hawaii, a common ornamental in the tropics. This lush plant can grow up to 50 feet but usually reach only 30 feet in height with a 20-foot spread. It puts out seeds every 20 years which resemble runners.
Not only is ‘Ohe valuable to soil erosion control, but it is also used in woodworking, medicinally, and is edible.
Plant Uses:
- Edible
- Hedge
- Medicinal
- Ornamental
- Privacy / screening
- Woodworking
Plant Dangers:
- No dangers
High Risk Traits:
- Naturalized in Hawaii
- Suitable for tropical/subtropical climates
- Forms dense thickets
- Produces viable seed
- Dispersed intentionally by people
- Wind-dispersed propagules
- Potential fire hazard (thatch accumulation)
- Shade-tolerant
Low Risk Traits:
- No spines, toxins, or allelopathy
- Not a weed (agricultural, environmental, or congeneric)
- Narrow climate tolerance (humid warm sites only)
- Very long generation time (~30 years to seed)
- No prolific seed production or persistent seed bank
- No vegetative fragmentation (clumping habit)
- No animal or contaminant dispersal
