Kuhi'Aikamo'Owahie

Lobelia hypoleuca

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Campanulaceae
Genus:
Lobelia
Species:
Lobelia hypoleuca

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
8-12 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
jan, feb, mar, apr, may, jun, jul, aug, sep, oct, nov, dec
Bloom Colors:
Blue

Native Range

United States: Hawaii

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★★ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained volcanic soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
native to Hawaiian forests, prefers volcanic substrates

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).

Notes: Seeds require light for germination; do not cover.

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o