Plants

Hualālai, one of the five volcanoes that form the Big Island of Hawaii, is home to a diverse range of plant species due to its varying elevations, climate zones, and volcanic soils. Here are some of the plants you can find on and around Hualālai:

1. Lowland Dry Forest and Coastal Plants:

• ʻŌhiʻa Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha): A dominant tree in many ecosystems across Hawaii, known for its bright red flowers.

• ʻAʻaliʻi (Dodonaea viscosa): A hardy shrub with small, bright red seed pods.

• Milo (Thespesia populnea): A coastal tree that produces large, heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers.

• ʻIlima (Sida fallax): A small shrub with delicate yellow flowers, often found in drier, coastal areas.

• Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia): A creeping ground cover plant with small lavender flowers, commonly found along coastal dunes.

2. Mid-Elevation Dry Forest:

• Wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis): A deciduous tree that blooms with vibrant orange or red flowers.

• Māmane (Sophora chrysophylla): A tree that produces yellow flowers and is crucial for the endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper birds.

• Nāʻū (Gardenia brighamii): A rare, fragrant-flowered tree found in dry forests.

3. Subalpine and Montane Zones:

• Pūkiawe (Leptecophylla tameiameiae): A hardy shrub that produces small white or pink berries, commonly found at higher elevations.

• ʻŌhelo (Vaccinium reticulatum): A shrub with red or orange berries, related to blueberries, often found in volcanic areas.

• Maui Pūkiawe (Styphelia tameiameiae): A subalpine shrub known for its small berries, also associated with volcanic landscapes.

4. Invasive Species:

• Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleianum): An invasive tree that thrives in moist environments.

• Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum): A fire-prone, invasive grass that threatens native ecosystems, especially in dry forest zones.

5. Lava-Adapted Plants:

• ʻŌhiʻa Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha): Thrives in lava fields and is often the first plant to colonize new lava flows.

• Ferns: Several types of ferns, such as the Hāpuʻu (Cibotium spp.) tree fern, thrive in volcanic soils.

These plants create diverse ecosystems from the dry coastal regions to the cooler, more lush environments near the summit of Hualālai. The varying volcanic landscape supports both native and endemic Hawaiian plants, along with some invasive species.