Pittosporum napaliense

leaf Main Plant Information

Genus

Pittosporum

Species

napaliense

Hawaiian Names with Diacritics

  • Hāʻawa
  • Hōʻawa

Hawaiian Names

  • Haawa
  • Hoawa

Common Names

  • Royal cheesewood

leaf Plant Characteristics

Distribution Status

Endemic

Endangered Species Status

Federally Listed

Plant Form / Growth Habit

  • Shrub
  • Tree

Mature Size, Height (in feet)

  • Tree, Small, 15 to 30
  • Tree, Medium, 30 to 50

Life Span

Long lived (Greater than 5 years)

Landscape Uses

  • Accent
  • Screening

Additional Landscape Use Information

This hōʻawa is rarely seen in landscapes and botanical gardens, but are easy to grow and maintain in the home landscape.

Source of Fragrance

  • Flowers
  • Fruits
  • Leaves

Additional Fragrance Information

Hōʻawa have a resonous scent found in the leaves and fruits. The flowers are very fragrant, especially at night. The scent has been described as a rich lemon smell.

Plant Produces Flowers

Yes

leaf Flower Characteristics

Flower Type

Showy

Flower Colors

  • White

Additional Flower Color Information

The flowers (corollas) are whitish with a dense pale brown or gray tomentose (fuzz) externally. The flowers are attractive en masse.

Blooming Period

  • Spring
  • Winter

Additional Blooming Period and Fruiting Information

The winter to spring blooming period is based on cultivated plants. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]

leaf Leaf Characteristics

Plant texture

  • Coarse

Leaf Colors

  • Medium Green

leaf Pests and Diseases

Additional Pest & Disease Information

Ocassionally spider mites can be a problem, but not plagued as with some other plants.

Back sooty mold can be problematic if not controlled. This mold often appears during the wetter times of the year.

leaf Growth Requirements

Pruning Information

Takes moderate, selective trimming well.

Water Requirements

  • Dry
  • Moist

Additional Water Information

Once established, it requires little extra watering except in extented dry periods. Mulching helps to lower the need for additional water.

Soil must be well drained

Yes

Light Conditions

  • Full sun
  • Partial sun

Soils

  • Cinder
  • Organic

Limitations

When outplanting hōʻawa (Pittosporum spp.), try to disturb roots as little as possible. [Leland Miyano, Landscape Architect, Artist]

leaf Environmental Information

Natural Range

  • Kauaʻi

Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)

  • 150 to 1000, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 1000 to 1999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)

Habitat

  • Terrestrial

Additional Habitat Information

This rare hōʻawa is found in scattered in disturbed hala forest and mesic valleys at about 490 to over 1800 feet from Limahuli to Hanakoa valleys, northwestern Kauaʻi.

leaf Special Features and Information

General Information

Pittosporum, a genus of 150-200 species, belong to Pittosporaceae or Pittosporum family.

The Hawaiian Islands are home to 11 endemic species, four of are rare and/or endangered. There are also three naturalized species.

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 napaliensis is named for the Nāpali Coast, Kauaʻi.

Background Information

In the vacinity of Limahuli Valley, Pittosporum napaliense appears to hybridize with two other endemic hōʻawa P. kauaiense and perhaps P. glabrum.

Early Hawaiian Use

The outer layer of the fruit valves of hōʻawa (Pittosporum spp.) were used medicinally. They were pounded and used externally on sores. [1]

Modern Use

 

Additional References

[1] "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%20napaliense

leafMore Links

Back to Plant List

Plant List

Other Nursery Profiles for Pittosporum napaliense