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+--- Thread: Ohia replacement suggestions (/showthread.php?tid=16148)
Ohia replacement suggestions - KiminPL - 07-05-2015
With 80% of my canopy fallen or dead, what trees will grow successfully in Leilani Estates? Looking for moderate growth, not too fast, but faster than Ohia. Canopy could be tall and narrow, like Ohia, or more spreading, but not overly dense shade. Prefer a tree that does not have large above-ground roots. Not interested in producing food from these canopy trees.
Please describe your experiences growing attractive trees in Leilani Estates, with pros and cons. Thanks!
RE: Ohia replacement suggestions - kalakoa - 07-05-2015
Have been thinking about the same thing. There is a species of bamboo that grows into a large "weeping willow" shape which would work nicely for shade...
RE: Ohia replacement suggestions - rainyjim - 07-05-2015
Try planting:
- Perrottetia sandwicensis
- Myoporum sandwicense
- Cordia subcordata
- Pandanus tectorius
- Acacia koa
- Artocarpus altilis
These are all native or canoe plants. Please consider the benefits to planting these over your run of the mill ornamentals.
RE: Ohia replacement suggestions - EightFingers - 07-05-2015
Koa doesn't grow at low elevations like in Leilani.
RE: Ohia replacement suggestions - rainyjim - 07-05-2015
Acacia koa can grow anywhere from 100-2,300 m elevation. I believe leilani eatates falls within that range. Typically it is a high elevation tree, however, I have seen koa growing at sea level when planted in landscapes.
RE: Ohia replacement suggestions - leilaniguy - 07-05-2015
There is a row of big ones that were just trimmed in front of the Chow place between Pahoa and Nanawale on Kapoho Rd.
RE: Ohia replacement suggestions - Guest - 07-05-2015
The Ohia rain forest tree dying throughout this area is very sad and disturbing. So many other trees seem to grow well while the Ohia dies quickly. Some fruit trees that grow well or at least Produce something are worth while. Lychee, avocado, tangerines, bananas, guava, coffee, mountain apples, star fruit, citrus trees(lime,lemon,oranges) and a very fast obnoxious growing ice cream bean tree does well in leilani. From my experience mangoes struggle and produce very little for some reason. We like the look of the kukui nut, monkey pod, rainbow eucalyptus trees and they grow fairly fast without losing to many branches during storms. Can't go wrong with the podocarpus, ironwood, or albezia for future job security.
Is it really time to give up on the Ohia in Puna, they can't be saved?. Maybe the yellow Ohia would continue to grow, or could be planted in stands in a few years? Could some resistant Ohia take to being grafted? if any do survive this black plague. Doesn't look good at this point, we don't even know what caused the Ohias to start dying, or where it truly started, or all the ways it can spread? The stopping of this disease or finding a cure for it to save the Ohia could take awhile. The Ohia tree was probably a very important tree to many generations before ours, sad to see it destroyed this way in lower puna.
RE: Ohia replacement suggestions - KiminPL - 07-05-2015
No food crops to feed rats and pigs. Sorry gypsy, not practical. Practicality required in the stewardship of the land.
A friend recommended a Hawaiian native, Tetraplasandra hawaiensis. Any experiences to report?
I hear the Koa is attacked by a moth at this elevation, plus or minus 800 ft.
Rainyjim -- thanks for you well-intended suggestions but some do not seem to really be trees. Can only find images of leaves for the first, for example, and I removed a razor-edged Pandanus some time ago. Looking for canopy, i.e. shade, especially dappled shade, as the Ohia have provided before their demise. I will continue to research these names.
RE: Ohia replacement suggestions - rainyjim - 07-06-2015
Hi,
Here is some info for tetraplasandra: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/trees/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Tetraplasandra_hawaiiensis.pdf
re: the trees I listed above, not to worry they are all trees : )
RE: Ohia replacement suggestions - kalakoa - 07-06-2015
Koa doesn't grow at low elevations like in Leilani.
I am told there are two major varietals of koa, one for each of high/low altitude ranges.