Matching Plants
ʻOlena
Turmeric
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.
ʻOlenaThe taxonomic family for the plant.
ZingiberaceaeThe common name of the plant in English.
TurmericOther names the plant may be called.
‘ōolena; lena; mālena.Does 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.
NoIf 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.
2-4Plant prefers well-drained soil. Learn more.
YesDoes this plant meet your landscaping needs?
The plant's growth form.
HerbThe range of height of a fully-grown plant, in feet.
1.5-5'The range of width of a fully-grown plant, in feet.
3'Select the landscape design role you are looking for. Learn more.
Accent, Containers, Ground Cover, FragrantSelect a flower color or other attractive feature to filter for those plants. Learn more.
Pink, WhiteDoes 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.
May need regularFor harvesting and transplanting and other tips, see CTAHR’s “Hawaiʻi Turmeric Production Guidelines”.
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.
Kapa cloth, Medicine, SpiritualNot 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, HawaiʻiProtection status for the plant under Federal and Hawai'I state laws. Learn more.
NoneThe 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 PlantWelcome to the Go Native App
Things will go here.
Gorgeous flowers and medicinal benefits (roots are the source of turmeric, prized as an anti-inflammatory). Plant rhizomes 4″ deep. Plants will go dormant during the dry season.