top of page

LANDSCAPE PLAN

ENDEMIC LANDSCAPING

The Big Island of Hawai’i is home to 11 of 13 sub-climate zones in the world. As a result, we see huge diversity in our endemic plant life. At Waters Edge endemic plants were sourced from certified seed and starts. They thrive without the need for irrigation, pesticides, or fertilizer. This means reduced water consumption and neither pesticide nor fertilizer run-off into the Kailua-Kona coastline waters.

FINAL-Landscape-Plan-Words-Adjusted.jpg

Download a large-scale landscape plan.

PLANT HIGHLIGHTS

These incredible native plants do not require water, fertilizer or pesticides to thrive.

Alahee.png
Alahe'e

Psydrax odorata

This waxy-leafed flowering shrub or small tree is most at home in Hawaiian Lowland Dry ‘Metrosideros’ Forested land. A member of the coffee family, Ala means fragrance, and he’e is Hawaiian for octopus. This hady plant has clusters of white bloom and is native to the Pacific Islands, New Guinea and Australia.

Pa'u O Hi'iaka

Jaquemontia ovalifolia 

This hardy vining plant has round bright green leaves, and produces delicate 1" blooms ranging in color from white to lavender. The flowers are shaped similar to a woman's full skirt, and are named after the skirt of Hi'iaka younger sister of the fire goddess, Pele.

Pau o Hiiaka.png
A'ali'i

Dodonaea viscosa 

A'ali'i is a hardy shrub plant graced with little red flowers. This plant plays an important role in the ecosystem of the island as it is considered a "pioneer species" - it's one of the first to grow on new lava flows. The wood was used extensively by early Hawaiians and its berries used for red dye.

Aalii.png
Ilima Papa.png
'Ulei  

Osteomeles anthyllidifolia

'Ulei has fern-like leaves and delicate flowers that look like wild roses. Indigenous to Hawai'i and other Pacific Islands, it is also known as Hawaiian rose, or Hawaiian hawthorn, and is indeed in rose family, Rosaceae.

'Ilima Papa

Sida fallax 

This bushy plant thrives in sunny and windy coastal areas. It has  flowers that can range in color from yellow, orange, or rusty red and makes an attractive verdant screen.

Bacopa Monnieri.png
Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa is a creeping groundcover plant with small succulent oval leaves and white flowers with a lavender center. Bacopa is widely recognized in many cultures for its medicinal benefits.

Pritchardia Palms 

Family Arecaceae

These are beautiful and regal fan palms. All of the native Hawaiian palms are endemic, and are members of the genus Pritchardia. The genus is found across the tropical islands of the Pacific and the name Pritchardia is in honor of William Thomas Pritchard, a British consul at Fiji.

Prichardia Palms.png
Moa.png
Moa  

Psilotum nudum

Moa is a very structurally interesting plant. It has no leaves, and its stems are flat or square with very small scalloped protrusions. Early Hawaiians found many medicinal uses for Moa, which also means "chicken". There is a children's game using the plant where the winner crows triumphantly like a rooster.

Ulei.png
Kou.png
Kou  

Cordia subcordata

This tree blooms with vibrant orange flowers that are one to two inches in diameter. Kou is a "canoe plant", one of the select few plants that were brought by canoe to Hawai'i.  Kou was valued for its medicinal attributes and also as a carving wood due to the beauty of its grain and how easily it is cut and carved. 

bottom of page