Native Plants of KHP: Naio

Name: Naio(Myoporum stellatum)Description: A rare shrub with fuzzy leaves only found naturally in Kalaeloa and Nānākuli, O‘ahu. The more common naio, Myoporum sandwicense, is found throughout the main Hawaiian Islands.Best Growing Conditions: Full sun; water once a week until established and then only during drought (Culliney & Koebele 1999).Interesting Facts: Naio (Myoporum sandwicense; maybe, M. stellatum) was a valuable wood in old Hawai‘i, used for net gauges, hale posts and framing (Krauss 1993). Near the end of the ‘iliahi trade (early 1840s), the fragrant wood was sometimes past off as sandalwood. However, the Chinese quickly realized the deception and the plant acquired the unflattering name, bastard or false sandalwood (Degener 1984). More information about naio can be found at: www.nativehawaiiangarden.orgText & photograph by Bruce P Koebele