Hawaiʻi is home to some of the rarest plants on Earth, many now at risk of extinction. Despite the islands’ favorable climate, native species are rapidly declining due to invasive pests and plants, wildfires, development, and other modern pressures. Remarkably, native Hawaiian plants account for 38 percent of all species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

A Native Hawaiian Garden was created to help counter this loss. Once rarely grown in home gardens or public spaces, native plants are now gaining attention as better cultivation knowledge becomes available. This book offers the most thorough guide yet to growing native Hawaiian plants, beginning with an overview of natural history and conservation and followed by detailed profiles of 63 species—many covered for the first time. It walks readers through every stage of cultivation, from seed preparation to landscape care, while also describing natural habitats and traditional Hawaiian uses. More than 90 color photographs accompany the text.

Valuable to professionals and home gardeners alike, A Native Hawaiian Garden encourages the return of native plants to yards, communities, and shared spaces, empowering individuals to play an active role in preserving Hawaiʻi’s unique plant life.

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By John L Culliney and Bruce P. Koebele

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Paperback | 176 pages |  University of Hawaiʻi Press