This Saturday, June 11, is King Kamehameha Day here in Hawaii. It seems fitting to look forward to the day by celebrating the butterfly that carries the great Hawaiian king’s name as well as the native Hawaiian plant that the butterfly favors, the mamaki.
The butterfly is the state insect and is known in Hawaiian as pulelehua. They have beautiful orange and black markings on their wings which means they are sometimes confused with the monarch. They are distinct from other species, however. They can sometimes be seen near their favorite mamaki tree which has lovely horizontally arching branches and a delicate growth habit. Consider gracing your garden with this native tree and its many charms.
Mamaki trees (Pipturus albidus) are endemic to Hawaii. This means the species is native only to Hawaii, though it is now grown in many other places. Mamaki is a member of the Urticaceae or Nettle family. Their branches have the distinctive tiny hairs of their nettle cousin, but theirs do not sting.
The natural habitat of the mamaki is the mesic and upland forests of Hawaii that run from 200 to 6,000 feet elevation. Here they get adequate shade and water for them to thrive. In these forests mamaki trees can grow to 30 feet tall with a trunk that is about a foot in diameter. This makes them good candidates for upper elevation gardens with limited space. To see mature mamaki trees, check out those planted at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook.
In addition to the small size and attractive growth habit of the mamaki, her leaves add to the tree’s appeal. The green oval leaves have serrated edges and contrasting deep red veins. Steeped alone or combined with ko’oko’olau leaves, they make a tasty tea that has served for centuries as a tonic. Today, gardeners and farmers are cultivating mamaki for use in tea making.
The leaves are also favored by the larval stage of the native Kamehameha butterfly (Vanesssa tameamea). The adult butterfly lays her eggs on the leaves and once hatched, the voracious young caterpillar begins to feed on those leaves.
The caterpillar usually feeds from the underside of the leaves where it can hide from preying birds. It is further disguised by its appearance that is similar to the mamaki fruit. We can easily determine the caterpillar’s presence by the visible damage to the leaves. The larva eats its fill then creates a small light green chrysalis. The Kamehameha butterfly emerges from the chrysalis as an adult and begins feeding on flower nectar in the area. They will return to the mamaki to deposit eggs so that their young can enjoy their favorite mamaki leaf meal when they hatch.
To address the diminishing population of this butterfly UH-CTAHR entomologist, Will Haines was instrumental in starting the Pulelehua project to get community help in identifying the butterfly’s habitats in the wild. The project netted hundreds of photos and lots of location information which is being used to find ways to protect the butterfly and her habitats.
On the other hand, mamaki trees are growing in number. They have become popular among gardeners and farmers for their edible leaves. The tree also produces rather interesting spiky flowers that appear along the stem at the base of the leaves.
The fruit follows flowering and has the appearance of a small milky white, gum drop. Tiny black seeds are housed in the pulpy lobes of the fruit. The unusual appearance of the fruit is a characteristic that makes mamaki an interesting specimen plant in a garden. The fruit is edible and was traditionally consumed medicinally by Hawaiians as a laxative. Birds also eat the fruit and are often responsible for spreading the seeds.
Though mamaki seeds are plentiful in the numerous fruiting bodies that the tree produces, planting by seed may be best left to the birds. The seeds are tiny and must be separated from the pulpy fruit before planting. Once this is accomplished the seeds can take one to four months to germinate.
Propagation from semi-hardwood tip cuttings might be easier, though it takes nearly as long to produce a plant. Use cuttings that are about 4 inches long and include at least one node. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and plant it in a mix of perlite and vermiculite or in a planting mix. Remove most of the leaves. Keep the cutting in a shaded area, out of the wind, preferably with light daily misting for best results. The medium should be kept moist rather than dry or wet.
Once the cutting starts to produce new leaves and seems well rooted, you can move it to a larger pot with soil and fertilize lightly. Wait until the plant appears strong and healthy before planting out in the garden. Choose a spot that is out of the wind, in partial shade and with well-drained soil.
Mamaki trees need little maintenance. Pruning dead wood, misshapen branches or unattractive growth will help maintain the tree’s shape and enhance its overall appearance. Though several sucking insects might attack mamaki leaves, keeping the plant healthy will discourage insect pests. If any appear, a spray of safer soap and neem oil applied weekly should do in the bugs. For best results, apply the spray late in the day and contact the insects. By morning, the insects will likely be dead and you can wash off the soap and oil to protect the leaves from sunburn.
From the lovely growth habit to the attractive leaves and the interesting flowers and fruit, mamaki would make a good native addition to your garden. Of course, providing food for the Kamehameha butterfly and an ingredient for a tonic tea only adds to the reasons to plant a mamaki tree. You will have to tolerate some butterfly larval damage but the mamaki fruit will likely populate your garden with hungry birds. Plant a mamaki today and watch for the birds and Kamehameha butterflies tomorrow.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.
Gardening Events
Saturdays: “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 bag lunch. Water and snacks provided. Visit the website www.amygreenwell.garden/get-involved/volunteer-1/ and sign up for the weekly email for more information on work days.
Kawanui Farm has two new grape growing videos to share as part of the Grape Project. Check them out at https://youtu.be/hREv8mrzAfc and https://youtu.be/rbAeXclPg04
Saturday, June 18: “Hawaii Coffee & Cacao Festival” at the Kaka’ako Farmer Market in Honolulu seeking growers, producers, chocolatiers, baristas, chefs and related Coffee & Cacao items. Vendors: RSVP by May 1 by emailing alohafarmlovers@gmail.com. For more information, contact Pamela Boyar at alohafarmlovers@gmail.com or (808) 388-9696.
Pesticide Subsidy Program Outreach to Coffee Farmers: To take advantage of the HDOA CBB and Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) Pesticide Subsidy Program contact Melanie Bondera at Hawaii Department of Agriculture Phone: (808) 323-7578 or email hdoa.cbb@hawaii.gov with questions.
Farmer direct markets
(check websites for the latest hours and online markets)
Wednesday: “Ho’oulu Farmers Market” at Outrigger Kona Resort & 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 central Waimea
“Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” 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. Walk-in from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays at the UH-CES at Komohana in Hilo or call (808) 981-5199 or email himga@hawaii.edu