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Site Conditions?

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Exposure?

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Water Requirements?

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Well Drained Soil?

Plant prefers well-drained soil. Learn more.

Salt Tolerant?

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Elevation?

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Landscape Uses?

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Plant Width?

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Good For Novices??

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Spreader??

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Degree of Spread?

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Short Lived??

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Pruning Needs?

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Availability?

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Additional Criteria

Ethnobotany Uses?

How the Ancient Hawaiians used the plant: food, tools, shelter, canoes, medicine, spiritual, crafts, lei, ornamental, and/or fire.

Plants' Presence by Island?

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Valued by Birds?

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Valued by Bees??

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Federal Status?

The federal status of the plant (Endangered, Threatened, or Not listed) based on the US Fish and Wildlife Services Environmental Conservation Online System as of 6/26/2024. Also see "Population Status" designations (PEPP, SWAP). Learn more.

Population Status?

Protection status for the plant under Federal and Hawai'I state laws. Learn more.

Origin?

The native status of the plant in Hawaiʻi: Indigenous (found natively throughout Hawaiʻi), Endemic (found natively in specific areas), or Canoe (brought to Hawaiʻi by Ancient Hawaiians from other places in Polynesia). Learn more.

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    ʻAwapuhi

    Stunning flowers. Dies back for ~3 months/year so avoid featuring as a specimen. Spreads (slowly) and can take over an area. Traditionally and currently used as a shampoo (directly or processed).

    Scientific NameZingiber zerumbet
    Federal Status?

    The federal status of the plant (Endangered, Threatened, or Not listed) based on the US Fish and Wildlife Services Environmental Conservation Online System as of 6/26/2024. Also see "Population Status" designations (PEPP, SWAP). Learn more.

    None
    Common Name?

    The Hawaiian name(s) or other common name(s) of the plant.

    ʻAwapuhi
    Family?

    The taxonomic family for the plant.

    Zingiberaceae
    Other Common Names?

    Other names the plant may be called.

    Bitter ginger, shampoo ginger, pinecone ginger

    Does your site's environmental conditions meet this plant's needs?

    Climate Zones?

    The climate zones where this plant grows best. Learn more.

    Coastal Arid
    ✖
    Coastal Dry
    ✖
    Coastal Mesic
    ✔
    Coastal Wet
    ✔
    Inland Arid
    ✖
    Inland Dry
    ✖
    Inland Mesic
    ✔
    Inland Wet
    ✔
    Salt Tolerant?

    Salt tolerance is variable. If your site is right on the coast with direct salt spray, do some additional research to determine its tolerance. Learn more.

    No
    Preferred Elevation?

    If the plant grows better above or below 2,000' in elevation. Learn more.

    No preference
    Exposure?

    Select what best represents the amount of sunlight at the planting site.

    Full Sun
    ✖
    Partial Sun
    ✔
    Shade
    ✔
    Water Requirements?

    The amount of water the plant needs: 1 is lowest, 5 is highest. Learn more.

    3-5
    Well Drained Soil?

    Plant prefers well-drained soil. Learn more.

    Yes

    Does this plant meet your landscaping needs?

    Plant Form?

    The plant's growth form.

    Herb
    Height?

    The range of height of a fully-grown plant, in feet.

    2-5'
    Width?

    The range of width of a fully-grown plant, in feet.

    3-5'
    Landscape Uses?

    Select the landscape design role you are looking for. Learn more.

    Accent, Containers, Fragrant, Hedge
    Flower Colors?

    Select a flower color or other attractive feature to filter for those plants. Learn more.

    Pink, Red

    Does this plant have the personality you're looking for?

    Availability?

    How easy it is to find the plant. Learn more.

    Common
    Good for Novices??

    Select options below to match your gardening experience. Learn more.

    Average
    Long-lived??

    Whether or not the plant is short-lived. Learn more.

    No
    Degree of Spread?

    If the plant spreads, how evenly. Learn more.

    Moderate
    Pruning Needs?

    If the plant needs pruning or not. Learn more.

    May need regular

    Be aware that in ideal conditions it can be aggressive and keeps spreading out, requiring that it periodically be divided (some prefer to plant in containers to avoid this hassle).

    Does this plant provide the ecosystem and/or ethnotobanical benefits you're looking for?

    Ethnobotany Uses?

    How the Ancient Hawaiians used the plant: food, tools, shelter, canoes, medicine, spiritual, crafts, lei, ornamental, and/or fire.

    Medicine, Tools
    Population Status?

    Protection status for the plant under Federal and Hawai'I state laws. Learn more.

    None
    Origin?

    The native status of the plant in Hawaiʻi: Indigenous (found natively throughout Hawaiʻi), Endemic (found natively in specific areas), or Canoe (brought to Hawaiʻi by Ancient Hawaiians from other places in Polynesia). Learn more.

    Canoe Plant

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