'Ohi'a Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha var. polymorpha)

'Ohi'a Lehua
Metrosideros polymorpha var. polymorpha

Metrosideros polymorpha var. polymorpha; Spring blooms near Kea'au, HI.

Will be moving to Volcano in a month in the heart of Ohia land. However, I have six 2' Ohia trees I raised from seed here in Eureka CA. Have you had any feedback from others who have been successful with Ohia on the mainland?

Scott

Hi Scott,

I've never heard of anyone cultivating Hawaiian 'Ohi'a on the mainland, especially from seed. It is found in botanical gardens, but usually not private collections.

Which Island did you get the seed from? Any photos to show?

Metrosideros polymorpha from Hawai'i Island is found from near sea level to about 9,000 ft.

In the Volcano area there are 4 varieties; glaberrima, incana, macrophylla, & polymorpha.
Metrosideros polymorpha var. polymorpha is the most common in the area. It is easily recognized by its' fuzzy backed leaves.

Aloha, Dave

This message was edited Aug 9, 2010 9:15 PM

Dave: Sorry to have not answered you Ohia question earlier. Have been in Hawaii and just got back for a little while. The Ohia seeds were collected on the Big Island, on the Saddle road, near Kipuka 21, at about 5,000'. They grew like crazy here but I worry about a big freeze every winter and am waiting for the killer, once a decade freeze. I doubt they will survive that although there are a lot of Ohia at about 8,000' on the slopes of Moana Loa Volcano that do endure freezing. I also have mature Koas here that have grown to about 30' with thick, strong trunks. They have endured really cold (23 dg.) weather without even flinching. They flower early every spring and produce seeds.

Scott

Hi Scott,

Impressive to hear that you are successfully raising montane plants from Hawai'i Island!

Temps get down to the 40's daily and sometimes freezing at 5000 ft. Any plant from those ares has to be tough to survive.

Koa grow up to about 7000 ft.; 'Ohi'a and Mamane can handle even tougher conditions.

Are you growing any other species?

Dave: Yes, I have had success with several other plants from about 4,000 ' elevation....Pilo (Coprosoma rhynchocarpa) which has frozen to the ground but revived, and the ubiquitous a'ali'i which doesn't flinch with light frost and has flowered. In Eureka the a'ali'i looks more like a common privit...leaves large, dark green and glossy, unlike the pretty rugged looking plants from which I collected the seed. The seed was collected from about 5,000' on Mona Loa Strip Road. I've tried others plants with dismal failure...a'e (Soapberry), milo (never thought it would survive but tried anyway) and hapu'u, which I immediately transfered to pots when they first were bitten by the frost and now keep under the eaves of the house in the winter. They thrive here in our cool summers.

I am returning to our house in Volcano in December and am working to clear the land completely of tibouchina and ginger. Lots of huge hapu'u left that survived the tibouchina invasion, lots of Ohia of various sizes olapa, several very large, mature Koa and several things I can't identify. Am planting as many natives from the Volcano area as I can get my hands on. Have a grove of Loulu, lobeliads, etc. etc. already in place but so much more to do!

You mentioned the various varieties of Ohia. Some of the literature I read says that some feel those varieties are simply various forms of the same species. I know that the Ohia I have here in Eureka all came from the same seed pod and they all vary somewhat in form...some with red shiny new growth, others with white, hairy new growth. An interesting phenomenon.
Thanks for your interest.

Scott

Hi Scott,

There are five varieties of 'Ohi'a on Hawai'i Island, plus many forms of those varieties.
The bright shiny leaves are variety glaberrima, the fuzzy ones are variety polymorpha. If the leaves are shiny but large and with large flowers, it is variety macrophylla.

The climate decides which varieties survive. The plants make seeds that are of several varieties.

Aloha, Dave

Dave: Thanks for the info. I've learned yet one more thing!

Scott