‘Awiwi: Hawaii’s Critically Imperiled Native Treasure
If you’re passionate about Hawaiian native plants and conservation gardening, you might have heard whispers about a tiny shrub called ‘awiwi. This unassuming plant, scientifically known as Hedyotis cookiana, represents one of Hawaii’s most precious and vulnerable native species – and there’s a very important story every gardener should know about it.
What Makes ‘Awiwi Special?
‘Awiwi is a native Hawaiian perennial shrub that belongs to the coffee family. This multi-stemmed woody plant typically stays compact, growing less than 13-16 feet in height, though it’s usually much smaller in most conditions. What makes this plant truly remarkable isn’t just its delicate white tubular flowers or its role in Hawaii’s native ecosystems – it’s how incredibly rare it has become.
A Plant on the Brink
Here’s where things get serious: ‘awiwi has a Global Conservation Status of S1, which translates to Critically Imperiled. This means there are typically only 5 or fewer known populations remaining, with very few individual plants left in the wild – we’re talking fewer than 1,000 plants total. This little shrub is teetering on the edge of extinction.
This critically imperiled status makes ‘awiwi both incredibly important to preserve and extremely challenging for home gardeners to obtain or grow responsibly.
Where ‘Awiwi Calls Home
‘Awiwi is endemic to Hawaii, meaning it exists nowhere else on Earth. This native species has evolved specifically within Hawaii’s unique island ecosystems over thousands of years, making it an irreplaceable part of the archipelago’s natural heritage.
Should You Plant ‘Awiwi?
This is where responsible gardening gets complicated. While ‘awiwi absolutely deserves our conservation efforts, its critically imperiled status means that any planting must be done extremely thoughtfully:
- Only use responsibly sourced material: This means plants or seeds that come from legitimate conservation programs or botanical institutions
- Never collect from the wild: With so few plants remaining, removing even one could be devastating
- Consider supporting conservation instead: Sometimes the best way to help is by donating to Hawaiian native plant conservation efforts
- Focus on habitat protection: Preserving the remaining natural areas where ‘awiwi grows may be more impactful than individual cultivation
Growing Conditions and Care
If you do have access to responsibly sourced ‘awiwi through conservation programs, here’s what this finicky native needs:
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11 (tropical conditions only)
- Light: Partial shade, mimicking its natural understory habitat
- Soil: Well-draining soil that mimics Hawaiian forest conditions
- Water: Consistent moisture without waterlogging
- Climate: Humid, tropical conditions similar to Hawaiian mesic to wet forests
Fair warning: ‘awiwi can be quite challenging to grow outside its native habitat and requires very specific conditions to thrive.
The Bigger Picture
While most of us may never have the opportunity to grow ‘awiwi in our gardens, learning about this critically imperiled species reminds us why native plant conservation matters so much. Every endemic species like ‘awiwi represents millions of years of unique evolution that, once lost, can never be recovered.
If you’re interested in Hawaiian native plants but can’t access rare species like ‘awiwi, consider growing other more readily available Hawaiian natives that can still provide important habitat and maintain the cultural and ecological connections that make Hawaiian gardens so special.
A Call for Conservation
‘Awiwi stands as a powerful reminder that some of our most precious native plants are hanging on by the thinnest of threads. While we may not all be able to grow this particular species, we can all support the dedicated botanists, conservationists, and organizations working tirelessly to prevent its extinction.
Sometimes the most responsible thing a gardener can do is simply spread awareness about why these plants matter – and why we need to act quickly to save them.
