Matching Plants










ʻIlima
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.
NoneThe Hawaiian name(s) or other common name(s) of the plant.
ʻIlimaThe taxonomic family for the plant.
MalvaceaeOther names the plant may be called.
ʻIlima; ʻIlima papaDoes your site's environmental conditions meet this plant's needs?
The climate zones where this plant grows best. Learn more.
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.
YesIf the plant grows better above or below 2,000' in elevation. Learn more.
No preferenceSelect what best represents the amount of sunlight at the planting site.
The amount of water the plant needs: 1 is lowest, 5 is highest. Learn more.
2-3Plant prefers well-drained soil. Learn more.
YesDoes this plant meet your landscaping needs?
The plant's growth form.
ShrubThe range of height of a fully-grown plant, in feet.
0.7-5'The range of width of a fully-grown plant, in feet.
2-6'Select the landscape design role you are looking for. Learn more.
Accent, Containers, Cliff Plant, Ground Cover, Hedge, Screen, SpecimenSelect a flower color or other attractive feature to filter for those plants. Learn more.
Orange, Red, YellowDoes this plant have the personality you're looking for?
How easy it is to find the plant. Learn more.
CommonSelect options below to match your gardening experience. Learn more.
AverageWhether or not the plant is short-lived. Learn more.
NoIf the plant spreads, how evenly. Learn more.
VariableIf the plant needs pruning or not. Learn more.
Minimal pruningPruning back will encourage new growth, but don’t prune back by more than 1/3 at a time.
Does this plant provide the ecosystem and/or ethnotobanical benefits you're looking for?
How the Ancient Hawaiians used the plant: food, tools, shelter, canoes, medicine, spiritual, crafts, lei, ornamental, and/or fire.
Lei, Medicine, Shelter, ToolsNot all native plants, birds occur on all islands. Select to show only what naturally occurs on your island. Learn more.
Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, Maui, HawaiʻiSelect to feature plants valued by native yellow-faced bees and/or honeybees. Learn more.
Yellow-faced Bees, Honey BeesProtection status for the plant under Federal and Hawai'I state laws. Learn more.
SWAP, Important interactionThe 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.
IndigenousWelcome to the Go Native App

Things will go here.
Ilima papa is a low growing, more drought tolerant plant adapted to the lowlands. ‘Ilima is upland, more upright and requires more water. Avoid automatic watering, especially in the drought tolerant lowland forms or plants prone to disease.