Pittosporum confertiflorum
Genus
Pittosporum
Species
confertiflorum
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Hāʻawa
- Hōʻawa
Hawaiian Names
- Haawa
- Hoawa
Synonyms
- Pittosporum cauliflorum
- Pittosporum cladanthum
- Pittosporum halophiloides
- Pittosporum lanaiense
Distribution Status
Endemic
Endangered Species Status
No Status
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Shrub
- Tree
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Shrub, Small, 2 to 6
- Shrub, Medium, 6 to 10
- Shrub, Tall, Greater than 10
- Tree, Dwarf, Less than 15
- Tree, Small, 15 to 30
- Tree, Medium, 30 to 50
Mature Size, Width
This hōʻawa can grow over ten feet wide and to over 30 feet tall.
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Hedges
- Screening
- Specimen Plant
Additional Landscape Use Information
Hōʻawa is a beautiful addition to a landscape requiring texture. They can be used as an accent or focal shrub or small tree.
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Type
Not Showy
Flower Colors
- Cream
- White
Additional Flower Color Information
Clusters of cream white flowers are showy but often hidden by the large leaves.
Plant texture
- Coarse
Leaf Colors
- Medium Green
Additional Leaf Color Information
Underside of the leaves have a tan or reddish fuzz.
Water Requirements
- Dry
Additional Water Information
Watering conditions can be from dry to wet depending on the origin of the plants.
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
- Partial sun
Tolerances
- Drought
Soils
- Cinder
- Organic
Limitations
When outplanting hōʻawa (Pittosporum spp.), try to disturb roots as little as possible. [Leland Miyano, Landscape Architect, Artist]
Natural Range
- Oʻahu
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
- Hawaiʻi
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- 150 to 1000, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 150 to 1000, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 150 to 1000, Greater than 100 (Wet)
- 1000 to 1999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 1000 to 1999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 1000 to 1999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
- 2000 to 2999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 2000 to 2999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 2000 to 2999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
- 3000 to 3999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 3000 to 3999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 3000 to 3999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
- 4000 to 4999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 4000 to 4999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 4000 to 4999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
Habitat
- Terrestrial
Additional Habitat Information
This variable hōʻawa is found in dry to wet forests from 590 to over 7200 feet.
Special Features and Information
General Information
Etymology
The generic name Pittosporum is derived from the Greek pittos, pitch, and sporos, seed, in reference to the film of viscid resin covering the black seeds.
The specific epithet confertiflorum is derived from the Latin confertus, dense or crowded, and flora, flowers.
Background Information
This species along with another hōʻawa (Pittosporum glabrum) are the most widespread and common of the native Hawaiian pittosporums.
Early Hawaiian Use
Canoe:
The wood was used in making gunwales for canoes. [1]
Medicinal:
The outer layer of the fruit valves of hōʻawa (Pittosporum spp.) were used. They were pounded and used externally on sores. [2]
Additional References
[1] "Plants in Hawaiian Culture" by Beatrice H. Krauss, pages 50, 324.
[2] "In Gardens of Hawaii" by Marie C. Neal, page 382.
PHOTOS FOR THIS SPECIES CAN BE SEEN AT THE LINK (Copy & Paste to your browser):
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50823119%40N08&sort=date-taken-desc&view_all=1&text=Pittosporum%20confertiflorum%20
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