This is a "starter" list of native plants for Hawaii. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes.
Hawaii Trees
Common Name
Scientific Name
Sun
Moisture
Height
Comments
Broom Sedge
Andropogon virginicus
F-P
D-W
4'
Green leaves/stems turn purple & bright orange in fall
Tussock Sedge
Carex stricta
F-P
A-W
2-3'
Evergreen; blue flowers dissappear quickly; likes full sun
Three-way Sedge
Dulichium arundinaceum
F-P
W
1-2'
Will thrive in up to 2" standing water; resembles bambo
Squarestem Spikerush
Eleocharis quadrangulata
F-P
W
24"
4-sided stems; wetland plant
Virginia Wild Rye
Elymus virginicus
P-S
D-A
3'
Distinguished by relatively stiff, erect spikes
Purple Love Grass
Eragrostis spectabilis
F
A
18-24"
Fluffy clouds of bronze-red inflorescences summer/fall
Canada Rush
Juncus canadensis
F-P
A-W
3'
Rapid growth; green foliage & flower
Smooth Rush
Juncus effusus
F-P
A-W
3'
Bright green cylindrical stems without nodes, no leaves
Switch Panic Grass
Panicum virgatum
F-P
D-W
4-6'
Bluish cast in summer; reddish fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
F-P
D-A
2-4'
Bright green to light blue leaves turn copper, orange
Cottongrass Bulrush
Scirpus cyperinus
F
W-A
3-5'
Clumping grass-like perennial; wooly seed heads in fall
Yellow Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
F-P
A-D
3-6'
Foliage varies from drooping & green to upright and blue
Hawaii Shrubs
Common Name
Scientific Name
Sun
Moisture
Height
Comments
Ewa Hinahina
Achyranthes splendens
2-6'
Small, silvery grey-green shrub.
Maile
Alyxia oliviformis
F-P
D-A
Small flowers represent the 4 mythic Maile sisters of hula.
