Endemic plants are an important part of Maui’s landscape.The plants which grew in your neighborhood before humans arrived on Maui are best adapted for your micro-climate. Most of the drought-tolerant endemic plant species naturally grow in the coastal and lowland areas of the island, such as nehe, ‘ilima, ‘ahinahina, ‘akia, and ‘a‘ali‘i. They often are adaptable to the inland and upland areas, which may be cooler and wetter, where they can reduce irrigation needs.
Endemic plants are more resistant to naturally occurring plant diseases, insects and low levels of nutrients, so they can also reduce the need for fertilizer and pesticides.
Your local native plants nursery is a good resource for advice and seedlings.
Please do not remove native plants from the wild! And, if you have endemic or indigenous plants on your property to begin with, try to retain them in the landscape, rather than removing them and then replanting. Not only will the plants thrive better, but they will help control erosion, sediment loss, dust and other pollution.
In partnership with the state’s energy office, the Maui Weekly provides this feature to help Valley Isle homeowners conserve and protect water resources.