Plants have many uses in our gardens, our landscapes and our lives. For growing success, it is always wise to choose plants that are well suited to your location and that can easily fill whatever needs and desires you have for them. A plant that will grow well in full to partial shade outdoors and can also serve as a lovely house plant is leea. To add a bit of color under shady eaves, you might want to consider this attractive and easy to grow plant.
The plant named leea is in the genus with the same name in the small Leeaceae family. Two members of the genus, L.guineensis and L.rubra are often cultivated here and are widely available. They are both native to parts of tropical West Africa as well as some of the Caroline Islands and parts of India and as far south as New Guinea
The botanical name for the genus, was Linneas’ way of honoring the eighteenth-century British horticulturist, James Lee who first attempted cultivation of leea species in his nursery. The plants were introduced to Europe for landscape use around 1853 and J.F.Rock brought them to Hawaii from the Philippines around 1917. Though the plant is often identified by its botanical name, it is sometimes known by the common name, Hawaiian holly.
Leea guineensis (also known as Leea coccinea) grows in the wild as an understory shrub with green or purplish leaves and stems. It grows well in low light allowing it to grow well in shady outdoor areas. This preference for shade means leea plants can easily adapt to growing indoors as house plants. They are also well suited to commercial use in shopping centers and indoor malls. For your yard, you can plant leea in partial to full shade in an attractive pot or in the ground.
To add more dramatic color, you might want to consider the Leea cultivar ‘Rubra’ which deep reddish-purple leaves and stems. Both leea species produce a rounded head containing masses of flower buds, usually in spring. The buds open to reveal small pink flowers that are followed by dark purple berries. The buds and flowers of ‘Rubra’ are a brighter red than L.guineensis.
Leea plants can be propagated from seed as well as from cuttings. Seeds are found inside the berries that follow flowering. Seeds should be soaked in warm water for 24 hours prior to planting in a sterile seeding mix. Plant about ¼ inch deep and keep moist (not wet) and warm in a shady spot. Seeds will usually germinate in three to six weeks.
To propagate from cuttings, remove a stem tip about four inches long with two or three nodes. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone and place into a moist medium that drains well. Keep the cutting in a shady place that is warm and humid. A combination of perlite and vermiculite that is kept moist is a good medium choice for leea cuttings.
Allow plants to grow for several months before planting out. Leea plants do best in shady locations with rich soil that drains well. They require regular watering and occasional fertilizing to thrive.
The plants may need occasional pruning to control a desired height and shape but are mostly trouble free. In favorable conditions, they are not attractive to most insects. In areas that are overly moist or humid they may become susceptible to fungal diseases. These can be treated with organic fungicides.
You may find leea plants in local nurseries and occasionally in big box stores. Call around to see if you can find them or try Margo from Sunrise at (808) 640-9191 and ask her to find them for you.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.
Gardening Events
Every Saturday: “Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Garden Visitor Center across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Come with a mask and be prepared to practice social distancing. Volunteers can help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown baglunch. Water and snacks provided. Call Peter at (808) 323-3318 for more information.
Farmer Direct Markets
Wednesday: “Ho‘oulu Farmers Market” at Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center. Information on their online market: keauhoufarmersmarket.com/onlinemarket
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables
“Waimea Town Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in Waimea
“Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground
Sunday: “Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
“Hamakua Harvest” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Highway 19 and Mamane Street in Honoka’a
Plant Advice Lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu at (808) 322-4893.