Hupilo: A Vulnerable Native Hawaiian Gem Worth Protecting in Your Garden
Meet hupilo (Coprosma menziesii), a charming native Hawaiian shrub that deserves a special place in your heart—and your garden. This perennial beauty is more than just another pretty plant; it’s a piece of Hawaii’s natural heritage that needs our help to survive and thrive.
What Makes Hupilo Special?
Hupilo is a multi-stemmed woody shrub that typically grows less than 13 to 16 feet tall, though it usually stays much more compact in garden settings. What really catches the eye are its small, glossy green leaves that create a dense, attractive canopy. The plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers that give way to colorful orange to red berries—a delightful surprise that adds seasonal interest to your landscape.
Where Hupilo Calls Home
This special shrub is endemic to Hawaii, meaning it exists nowhere else on Earth naturally. You’ll find it growing across the Hawaiian islands, where it has adapted to the unique climate and growing conditions of the Pacific.
A Plant That Needs Our Help
Here’s something important every gardener should know: hupilo has a Global Conservation Status of S3, which means it’s considered vulnerable. With only an estimated 3,000 to 10,000 individuals remaining and typically just 21 to 100 known occurrences, this plant is at risk of disappearing from the wild. This makes it even more special—and more important—to grow responsibly.
If you’re interested in adding hupilo to your garden, please make sure you source it from reputable native plant nurseries that propagate their plants ethically rather than collecting from wild populations.
Why Grow Hupilo?
There are several compelling reasons to consider this native Hawaiian beauty:
- Support conservation efforts by growing a vulnerable native species
- Excellent for erosion control on slopes
- Perfect for native Hawaiian garden designs
- Drought tolerant once established
- Attractive year-round foliage
- Colorful berries provide visual interest
- Low maintenance once established
Growing Conditions and Care
Hupilo is surprisingly adaptable, but like most natives, it has some preferences. This shrub thrives in USDA hardiness zones 10-12, making it suitable for tropical and subtropical climates. It performs well in both partial shade and full sun conditions, though some protection from intense midday sun can be beneficial.
The most critical requirement is well-draining soil. Hupilo doesn’t appreciate wet feet, so make sure your planting site has good drainage. Once established, it’s quite drought tolerant—a valuable trait in water-conscious gardening.
Planting and Care Tips
- Plant in well-draining soil to prevent root rot
- Water regularly during establishment, then reduce frequency
- Provide some shade protection in extremely hot climates
- Prune lightly to maintain shape and encourage dense growth
- Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Be patient—like many natives, hupilo may take time to establish
Garden Design Ideas
Hupilo works beautifully in several landscape applications. Use it as ground cover on slopes where its root system can help prevent erosion. It’s perfect for understory plantings beneath taller native trees or as part of a native Hawaiian garden design. The compact growth habit also makes it suitable for foundation plantings or as a border shrub.
The Bottom Line
Growing hupilo isn’t just about adding another pretty plant to your garden—it’s about participating in conservation. By choosing to grow this vulnerable native species (with responsibly sourced plants, of course), you’re helping ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy this unique piece of Hawaiian natural heritage. Plus, you’ll have a lovely, low-maintenance shrub that’s perfectly adapted to local conditions. It’s a win-win for both you and Hawaii’s native ecosystems!
