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This is one of the most colorful collections of its kind in Hawai'i. There are many colorful herbs, shrubs and vines in this plant family. Most of the 2,500 species are found in the tropics. The four main areas of distribution are Africa, Indonesia, Brazil and South America.
Considering the immense distribution throughout the world, it is curious that there are no native Hawaiian species. All the plants found in this garden are from other tropical spots throughout the world.
There are few species that have economical uses, and few trees in this family. Most of the plants are strictly ornamental, including the shrimp plant, black-eyed susan and the Philippine violet. Another plant, the squirrel tail, is popular in Hawai‘i for making leis.
Bamboos are actually giant members of the grass family, Poaceae. At least 1500 species can be found widely distributed in the topics and warm temperate areas of the world. Bamboos are the fastest-growing woody plants with some towering over 60 feet high. Many selections are highly prized for their variegations, and unusual stem shapes.
Next to palms man uses the bamboos more than any other plant family. They are unsurpassed for building construction and scaffolding. Artisans use the fine-grained wood to create farm tools, musical instruments, brushes, baskets and limitless handicrafts.
Bamboo is the sole food source for the endangered Giant Panda of China and in many oriental dishes the tender bamboo shoot is indispensable.
One surprising characteristic of most types of bamboo is that after many years, all the plants of one species will flower at the same time, even when widely separated. The massive amount of fruit produced use to cause an infestation of rats in historical China, which then led to famine.
Hawai‘i's state flower is the Hibiscus. This garden shows us how the modern Hibiscus has been developed since the early 1800’s.
This is the only garden of its kind in the world and highlights many different Hibiscus, including several that are endangered.
There are 10 sections to this garden.
- The first section is a collection of true species.
- The second grouping shows old forms, including Hibiscus varieties found by early European visitors to Asia and the South Pacific Ocean.
- The next seven sections show the results of crossing members of the first two groups.
- The last section features the magnificent blossoms of the modern hybrid.
The Lily family used to be considered one of the largest and most wide-spread flowering plant families in the world, but botanists have long recognized that its forms and flowering structures are too diverse to be lumped together. Mordern taxonomy is splitting the family apart and many of its plants have been relegated to other, sometimes new families. Bulbous leafs like tulips, onions or garlic are still placed to the Liliaceae or Alliaceae family
The Polynesian-introduced Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) and the exotic Draceana have now been placed in the Agavaceae family. Perched on dry cliffs in many parts of Hawai'i are naturalized plants of Agave sisalana, which escaped cultivation, is known for its fiber. The Dragon Tree, Draceana draco, from the Canary Islands, famous for its medicinal blood-red sap is also in this family.
The Agavaceae family includes 6 endemic Hawaiian species, all in the old world genus Pleomele. These look very similar to the Draceana plants, commonly known as the Money plant, but their flower parts differ.
Two of the most easily recognized members of this pantropical family are piper, woody climbers or shrubs including some trees, and peperomia, low herbs that are popular as houseplants. All of these plants have jointed stems and inconspicuous flowers born on spikes.
The condiment, pepper, comes from one of the 2,000 or more species of piper. The fruit of Piper nigrum can be ground whole to make black pepper or the outer coating can be removed first to yield white pepper. A close relative is Piper methysticum, called ‘awa in Hawai‘i, where over 15 varieties were once cultivated, or kava in other parts of the Pacific where its traditional use remains a central part of many cultures. A mixture of the pounded roots and water is consumed ritually, medicinally, or as a mild intoxicant.
Of the 1,000 or more species of peperomia some are found only in Hawai‘i. Some were used in medicine and in the manufacture of a gray dye for staining tapa cloth.
Ornamentals like the jade plant and the watermelon peperomia are widely used as potted plants. These prefer cool, moist conditions for optimal growth.
 Among the most popular flowers of tropical regions are the magnificent blooms of the hybrid Hibiscus.
The Hibiscus hybrid collection presents a dramatic floral display of several hundred cultivars from throughout the world. Many of these are antique or heirloom varieties, no longer in vogue.
(Visit the Hibiscus Evolution Garden to learn of the development of the Modern Hibiscus hybrid).
These herbaceous (non-woody) plants are found in tropical rainforests around the world. With nearly 2,000 species divided into 115 genera, the aroids are one of the largest plant families with an astounding variety of form. They often display striking foliage and unusual flower structures. Many are popular as houseplants for their ability to thrive in shady areas.
Some ground-dwelling herbs have starchy roots, like our edible kalo or taro, Colocasia, a staple for 400 million people of the tropics. Many are climbing vines like the Philodendron with aerial roots for support in addition to their normal ground roots for nutrition. Some climbing aroids have leaves which change in size and shape when they start to climb up a tree. The leaves of the pocket plant, Xanthosoma, act as reservoirs. The monstera, which has a pineapple flavored fruit, has holes in its leaves.
Some epiphytic aroids need no ground roots, deriving all their nourishment from the air. Anthuriums are of this type, found on branches or in leaf litter in the wild, but put in pots when grown commercially as ornamentals
This garden is part of Waimea Valley's effort to provide protective cultivation for our rarest native plants, studying propagation techniques and keeping accurate reocrds, all in hope of restoring self-sustaining plant communities for future generations to enjoy.
The Hawaiian Islands are volcanic in origin and more than 2000 miles from the nearest land mass. Plants evolved without the need of stinging hairs or spines for protection, because predators, such as grazing animals, did not exist in these early times. Insects and birds (many of them flightless) dominated. Our only native mammals, the hoary bat and monk seal, had little impact on plant life. The rich flora of Hawai`i is descended from a small number of pioneering ancestors, all of which arrived by wind, wave or wing. Most evolved into new species so that today over 90% of our Hawaiian plants are found nowhere else, the highest rate of endemism in the world.
Many plant species evolved in isolated habitats like a small swamp or gulley. Geothermal activity, rapid erosion and fierce storms fractured plant communities forcing plants to adapt. Although the early Polynesians cleared land for cultivation, for the most part they co-existed with nature and these important habitats. It was not until the arrival of the Europeans that the delicate balance of nature was disturbed. The process of clearing land for plantations and the introduction of goats, cattle and deer all took their toll on Hawai`i’s plant life.
We have recently extended the Hawaiian flora collection to the area across the road, behind the Kokua Kiosk. Behind the small kalo beds before the first bridge is a tall rock pile planted with Kaua`i endemic plants. The oldest of the tall islands, Kaua`i had more time for plants to specialize and evolve into new species. On the other side fo the bamboo-topped fence are plants endemic to O`ahu. In this area you can see the large bell-shaped flowers of Abutilon sandwicense, only found in the Wai`anae Mountains. Also here are plants of popolo, Solanum sandwicense, related to the tomato. Wild plants of these have become extinct on O`ahu in the time since they were brought into Waimea's protective cultivation. In a cage is a very rare, small carnation relative which naturally occurs only in Diamond Head crater. A seedling from O`ahu's last Gardenia brighamii tree is planted by the bamboo fence, and next to it is the rare kauila, Colubrina oppositifolia, with some of the hardest wood of all the native trees. At the other end of this area is a sprawling beach plant, the `ohai, Sesbania tomentosa. It has silvery leaves with microscopic hairs to withstand the heat and drying winds. This was propagated from the very last plant growing on Kaohikaipu Islet, off the coast from Makapu`u in the southeast. Behind it is the rarest of O`ahu's loulu palms, Pritchardia kaalae, collected on and named for O`ahu's tallest mountain.
Also, please come see our Native Fern Garden; our Hawaiian Hibiscus Garden and our Ethno-botany Collection.
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Acanthaceae