Capparis sandwichiana
Genus
Capparis
Species
sandwichiana
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Maiapilo
- Pilo
- Pua pilo
- Puapili
Hawaiian Names
- Maiapilo
- Pilo
- Pua pilo
- Puapili
Common Names
- Caper bush
- Hawaiian caper
- Native caper
Synonyms
- Capparis spinosa var. mariana
Distribution Status
Endemic
Endangered Species Status
At Risk
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Partially Woody / Shrub-like
Mature Size, Height
- Shrub, Small, 2 to 6
- Shrub, Medium, 6 to 10
Mature Size, Width
Minimum height to width ration: 15:1. Maiapilo can spread to 6 or more feet.
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Ground Cover
- Hedges
- Specimen Plant
- Accent
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Type
Showy
Flower Colors
- White
Additional Flower Color Information
Maiapilo has very showy bright white flowers with 120-180 stamens and lemon yellow centers. The flowers open after sunset and bloom into the early morning hours fading to pink by mid-day.
Blooming Period
- Spring
- Summer
Additional Blooming Period Information
After flowering a single cucumber-like fruit will form per flower. The ripe pungent fruits attract birds which eat the bright orange pulpy flesh inside along with the dark brown or gray seeds. The thought has been entertained that todays alien birds may unwittingly scatter seeds for regeneration as the now extinct native fruit-eating birds may have done in the past. [1] Red-vented bulbuls seem especially attracted to maiapilo in the wild as well as in the landscape. Keep an eye on the fruits as they turn orangish-yellow when ripening, and protect if needed, because birds have their sharp eyes on them too. [David Eickhoff, NPH]
Plant texture
- Fine
- Medium
Additional Plant Texture Information
Varied texture. Young leaves are either puberulent (short fine hairs) or glabrous (without hairs) but usually are glabrous with age. Leaves range between 1 to 2 inches.
Leaf Colors
- Light Green
- Medium Green
Additional Leaf Color Information
Olive or bluish green.
Source of Fragrance
Flower
Additional Fragrance Information
The fragrance is described as having a lemony scent. [Diana Troutman, NPH]
Additional Pest & Disease Information
Caterpillars, especially cabbage butterflies, can chew holes along leaf margins giving the leaves an unnatural raggedy look to them. [David Eickhoff, NPH]
Fertilizer
Small amount of 8-8-8 fertilizer when transplanting. A balanced 13-13-13 slow release fertilizer with micro-nutrients can be applied once or twice a year.
Pruning Information
Tolerates trimming or pruning.
Water Requirements
Dry
Additional Water Information
Maiapilo will require watering on a regular basis when first planted out in the landscape perhaps for the first month or so until established. Hold off watering during the rainy season. [Bruce Koebele, Kaʻala Farms]
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
Additional Lighting Information
Allow to drain between waterings. Water weekly for a month. Requires little watering after 3 to 4 months.
Spacing Information
3 to 5 feet. Minimum height to width ratio: 1.5:1.
Tolerances
- Drought
- Wind
- Salt Spray
Soils
- Sand
- Cinder
- Organic
- Coral
Limitations
Maiapilo has a habit of unexplained stem death. But considering their beauty and uniqueness, they are worth the effort grow them.
Natural Zones
- Less than 150, 0 to 50
- 150 to 1000, 0 to 50
Natural Range
- Niʻihau
- Kauaʻi
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
- Kahoʻolawe
- Hawaiʻi
- Northwest Islands
Additional Growth Environment Information
Maiapilo is generally a coastal plant but occasionally grows inland in dry areas on all the main islands and on Midway Atoll (Pihemanu), Pearl & Hermes Atoll (Holoikauaua) and Laysan (Kauō) in the Northwest Islands.
Special Notes and Information
Maiapilo is a member of the Mustard or Cabbage family (Brassicaceae).
Environmentally, this xeric plant provides habitat for the rare endemic Blackburn's Sphinx moth (Manduca blackburni) that feed on the nectar of maiapilo flowers.
Early Hawaiian Use
The early Hawaiian common people on Niʻihau referred to the native caper as pilo or puapili, while the chiefs called it maiʻa a Maui. [4] But the name perhaps most recognized today is maiapilo.
The entire plant was apparently used medicinally for healing fractured or broken bones. [5] The milky sap mixed with other ingredients was applied externally to treat boils. [6]
Modern Use
Though there is no modern use for maiapilo, the caper (Capparis spinosa), a close relative, is used in Mediterranean cuisine. The small buds are pickled added to enhance food and are a rich source of micro-nutrients. [3] They have also been used for thousands of years in the Mediterranean region to stimulate appetite [2].
Landscape Use
For landscapes, maiapilo is a good ground cover for a dry coastal or lava garden. Some varieties have a tendency to have a sprawling habit, while others are more shrub-like.
Maiapilo can be fussy under cultivation, but are well worth the effort to grow due to the beautiful and wonderfully fragrant flowers.
Additional References
[1] http://raisingislands.blogspot.com/2007/11/alien-birds-may-be-providing-native.html [accessed 12/2/08]
[2] "Insight on The Scriptures--Volume 1," page 410.
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capparis (accessed 1/26/09)
[4] "A Chronicle and Flora of Niihau" by Juliet Rice Wichman and Harold St. John, page 90.
[5] http://www.hawaiioirc.org/OIRC-SPECIES-PLANTS.htm [acessed 10/7/09]
[6] http://www.k12.hi.us/~waianaeh/HawaiianStudies/index.html [accessed 8/21/07]
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