Is there a good source for succulents in puna

[Mitzi M]

I love succulents too, and if you live in a drier, sunny, lower elevation kind of place you should have no trouble with them here. If your place is rainier, you might consider keeping them undercover in pots with some serious drainage (I lost a few of mine outdoors to rot last winter)- But best of all, you'll be delighted to know that there are some beautiful succulents native to these islands! Most of these are native to coastal lowlands, and unfortunately, a lot of them have become rare in the wild due to thoughtless development. They are definitely worthwile to grow if you have a well-drained, dryish, sunny spot. Some good ones to try are: Akulikuli/Sesuvium portulacastrum, Naupaka Kai/Dwarf Naupaka, Hinahina Kahakai/Nama sandwicensis, Ohelo Kai/Lycium sandwicense, and (my personal favorite)'Ihi/Portulaca molokiniensis - (it has a really unusual rosette shape and bright yellow flowers held on stalks above the plant). If you live in a wetter place try 'Ala'ala wai nui/peperomia spp, and 'Ae'ae/Bacopa monnieri. You have a good chance of finding some of these plants at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden (Kona side) and in Puna at Rozettes in HPP (Ask for Nanette - she's wonderful and grows a lot of the natives there). You can check these and other great native plants out at the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk Project website: http://www.hear.org/plants/

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