Swamp Colicwood: A Rare Hawaiian Treasure Worth Protecting
If you’re passionate about Hawaiian native plants and conservation gardening, you might have stumbled across the name swamp colicwood (Myrsine petiolata). This isn’t your typical garden center find – it’s actually one of Hawaii’s rarer native shrubs that deserves our attention and protection.
What Makes Swamp Colicwood Special?
Swamp colicwood is a perennial shrub that’s exclusively native to Hawaii. Like most shrubs, it’s a multi-stemmed woody plant that typically grows less than 13-16 feet tall, with several stems emerging from or near the ground. This Hawaiian endemic has also been known by the scientific synonym Myrsine linearifolia Hosaka var. nittae in botanical circles.
Where Does It Grow?
This native beauty calls only Hawaii home, making it a true island endemic. You won’t find swamp colicwood growing naturally anywhere else in the world – not in California, not in Florida, nowhere but the Hawaiian Islands.
A Conservation Concern
Here’s where things get serious: swamp colicwood has a Global Conservation Status of S2, meaning it’s considered Imperiled. This classification indicates the plant is extremely rare or especially vulnerable to disappearing forever. Typically, this status means there are only 6 to 20 known locations where it grows, or just a few thousand individual plants remaining in the wild.
What does this mean for gardeners? If you’re interested in growing swamp colicwood, you absolutely can – but only with responsibly sourced plant material. Never collect plants from the wild, and make sure any nursery stock comes from ethical propagation programs that support conservation efforts rather than depleting wild populations.
Growing Conditions and Habitat
The name swamp colicwood gives us a clue about where this plant likes to live. It has a Facultative wetland status in Hawaii, meaning it’s equally comfortable in both wetland and non-wetland environments. This adaptability might make it easier to grow in various garden settings, from bog gardens to regular landscape beds.
Why Grow Swamp Colicwood?
Growing rare native plants like swamp colicwood serves multiple important purposes:
- Supporting conservation efforts by maintaining genetic diversity outside of wild populations
- Creating authentic Hawaiian landscapes that reflect the islands’ natural heritage
- Contributing to habitat restoration projects
- Educating others about Hawaii’s unique and threatened flora
The Bottom Line
Swamp colicwood represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. While specific growing information for this rare species is limited, its conservation status makes it a plant worth protecting and propagating responsibly. If you’re committed to Hawaiian native plant gardening and can source plants ethically, adding swamp colicwood to your collection supports important conservation goals.
Before planting, connect with local native plant societies, botanical gardens, or conservation organizations in Hawaii. They can provide guidance on responsible sourcing and may even have propagation programs you can support. Remember: with great rarity comes great responsibility!
