Growing Makou: A Rare Hawaiian Native Worth Protecting in Your Garden
If you’re passionate about native Hawaiian plants and conservation gardening, makou (Peucedanum sandwicense) deserves a spot on your radar. This delicate Hawaiian endemic is more than just a pretty face in the garden – it’s a living piece of Hawaii’s natural heritage that desperately needs our help to survive.
What Is Makou?
Makou is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the carrot family, though don’t expect to harvest any root vegetables from this beauty! As a forb, it stays relatively soft and green without developing woody stems like shrubs or trees. What makes makou special isn’t just its Hawaiian origins – it’s the delicate, lacy foliage and small clusters of white flowers that dance in the breeze like tiny umbrellas.
Where Does Makou Come From?
This little gem is endemic to Hawaii, meaning it evolved here and exists nowhere else on Earth. You can find wild populations scattered across multiple Hawaiian islands, from Kauai to the Big Island, where it grows naturally in dry to moderately wet forests and on rocky slopes.
Why You Should (Carefully) Consider Growing Makou
Important Conservation Alert: Before we dive into the gardening details, here’s something crucial you need to know – makou is listed as Threatened and has an Imperiled conservation status. This means there are very few wild populations left, typically only 6 to 20 occurrences with limited individuals remaining.
But here’s the thing – this rarity status is exactly why responsible gardeners should consider growing makou, provided they source it ethically. By cultivating this plant in appropriate gardens, we can help preserve its genetics and potentially support future conservation efforts.
What Makes Makou Garden-Worthy
Beyond its conservation value, makou brings several benefits to the right garden:
- Authentic Hawaiian character: Perfect for native plant gardens and cultural landscapes
- Pollinator support: Those small white flower clusters attract native Hawaiian insects and other small pollinators
- Low-maintenance groundcover: Once established, it’s relatively easy to care for
- Unique texture: The feathery foliage adds delicate texture contrast to broader-leafed plants
Growing Conditions and Care
Makou thrives in USDA hardiness zones 10-12, which makes it suitable for tropical and subtropical climates. If you’re gardening in Hawaii or similar climates, here’s what this plant prefers:
- Soil: Well-draining soil is absolutely essential – soggy roots will spell disaster
- Water: Moderate watering once established, mimicking its natural dry to mesic forest habitat
- Light: Partial shade to filtered sunlight works best
- Wind protection: Shield from strong coastal winds that can damage the delicate foliage
Where Makou Fits in Your Landscape
This isn’t a plant for every garden, but in the right setting, makou shines. Consider it for:
- Native Hawaiian restoration gardens
- Coastal gardens with wind protection
- Dry forest or woodland gardens
- Rock gardens with good drainage
- Conservation or educational gardens
The Responsible Sourcing Challenge
Here’s where things get tricky – because makou is so rare, you can’t just pop down to your local nursery and pick one up. If you’re serious about growing this plant, you’ll need to:
- Connect with native plant societies or conservation groups in Hawaii
- Look for ethically propagated plants from conservation nurseries
- Never collect from wild populations
- Consider participating in conservation propagation programs
Is Makou Right for Your Garden?
Makou isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. This plant is best suited for dedicated native plant gardeners who understand the responsibility that comes with growing rare species. If you’re new to native gardening or looking for something more readily available, consider starting with other Hawaiian natives that are less threatened.
However, if you’re committed to conservation, have experience with native plants, and can source makou responsibly, this little treasure offers a unique opportunity to be part of preserving Hawaii’s botanical heritage right in your own backyard.
Remember, every garden that successfully grows and protects rare native plants like makou becomes a tiny ark of conservation – and that’s something pretty special to be part of.
