Rare native plants

[Mitzi M]

Wow, Les that's awesome that you got to help plant silverswordlings...You know, I went to the Home Despot and saw those native plants as well. A while ago I read something about the nursery on Oahu that got the contract with Wal-Mart and the Despot...It sounded so cool - like they were making these plants available (and more popular) for the regular folk. I liked the clever descriptive signs with each kind of plant letting you know it's origin, status and care. But...then I noticed the bugs...millions and millions of pest insects on virtually every native plant, including mealy bugs (plant and root), scale, whiteflies, aphids and maybe a fungus(?) on one type of plant that caused blackish spots and wilt. Yikes! It really brings up a lot of issues. I worry about plants from other islands bringing pests and diseases. I read something about a mamane disease that started this way and the possibility of spreading ohia rust. Also, if there are related plants already here on our island, there is the possibility that introduced relatives may interbreed and effect the wild gene pool. This is a big concern with the native Lo'ulu Palms as they are capable of crossbreeding if planted within 100 feet. Many of the more common nursery bred species are from Moloka'i, like P. hillebrandii - It would be a real shame to jeapordize our tiny endangered populations of P.affinis, P. beccariana etc. Maybe some species from other islands might be ok to grow here, especially if there are no simlar species represented on this island... I have to admit I have a pet 'Ihi (Portulaca molokiniensis) that lives in a pot on my lanai, far from any portulacas native here.

Aloha,
Mitzi

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