I recently returned from Hawaii with a seedpod of Koa which I randomly planted on my deck in Oakland California. I didn't think it would ...Read Moregerminate, but low and behold it has, and is now about 3 or 4 inches tall. Does anyone have any advice? I've found some info online but it's pretty sparse as all sources stress that it only grows in Hawaii.... even though, it obviously can grow in California too.
This tree is easy to germinate from seed if scarified. Simply make a small and shallow cut with a sharp knife along the side of the hard ...Read Moreseed shell (only deep enough to see the slightest white from the endosperm inside). Place the seed in a zip lock bag filled up 1/3 of the way with potting soil (preferably a seed germinating mix; I have also found that the Palm/Cactus/Citrus blends work well). Dampen the soil and place the zip lock bag on a seed germination heat mat. Should germinate in 3-5 days.
I live in Graton CA. I build ukuleles from koa. I'm very interested in planting koa trees on my property an that of my friends. I realize...Read More they will not be ready to harvest in my lifetime but would like to leave some trees here in CA for future. Any help on finding seeds or small trees would be greatly appreciated.
Koa does well in Eureka (cool coastal) Calif. I have three 25 ' trees grown from seed. Frost tender first years. Does NOT like wet fee...Read Moret. Has withstood temps. of 25 deg. Very fast growing.
San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) | December 2007 | positive
Koa is endemic to the Hawaian Islands. At present it is listed as a secure species; however, its habitat has and is being cleared and ma...Read Moreny trees destroyed. It is being reforested in some areas. Early Hawaiians carved canoes from these hardwood trees. It has been used to make surfboards, paddles and house framing. This endemic tree produces two different kinds of leaves. The juvenile leaves look a bit fern-like with the mature leaves resembling a scythe.
I am one of three people that I know of in Sonoma County, California (USDA zone 9, Sunset Zones 14 and 15) who are successfully growing d...Read Moreozens of Acacia Koa trees outdoors year round in the ground! Our lowest lows are between 18 and 22 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as the trees are protected from frosts and freezes for the first year or two of life, they do very well outside in the ground in these zones/conditions.
The wood from the koa tree is so prized in Hawaii that it is becoming scarser in its own native habitat. Some irresponsible wood workers...Read More will 'poach' the trees regardless of the damage they might cause all around them. In some areas of our island a special effort is being made to re-forest koa plantings, but old stands, unless located in higher elevations where it might be hard to harvest and transport, are disappearing.
The leaves and trees look very much like the Earleaf Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis) pictured in today's (11/06/04) Plant DataBase newsletter.
Native Hawaiian tree- can get a large, thick trunk. Wood from this tree is highly prized - and orange color that is one of the finest wo...Read Moreods for furniture, construction and carving. Tree itself is sort of ordinary looking. Not sure of hardiness- could possibly be a bit more cold hardy than zone 11.
I recently returned from Hawaii with a seedpod of Koa which I randomly planted on my deck in Oakland California. I didn't think it would ...Read More
This tree is easy to germinate from seed if scarified. Simply make a small and shallow cut with a sharp knife along the side of the hard ...Read More
I live in Graton CA. I build ukuleles from koa. I'm very interested in planting koa trees on my property an that of my friends. I realize...Read More
Koa does well in Eureka (cool coastal) Calif. I have three 25 ' trees grown from seed. Frost tender first years. Does NOT like wet fee...Read More
Koa is endemic to the Hawaian Islands. At present it is listed as a secure species; however, its habitat has and is being cleared and ma...Read More
I am one of three people that I know of in Sonoma County, California (USDA zone 9, Sunset Zones 14 and 15) who are successfully growing d...Read More
The wood from the koa tree is so prized in Hawaii that it is becoming scarser in its own native habitat. Some irresponsible wood workers...Read More
Native Hawaiian tree- can get a large, thick trunk. Wood from this tree is highly prized - and orange color that is one of the finest wo...Read More