This issue we would like to focus on planting the right plants in the right places or "Plant Pono
".
There are so many problems related to planting the wrong plants and even planting them in the wrong
spot that can create future burdens. We encounter these problems all the time and therefore lets shed
some light on planting pono. Much of the following information has come from the website:
www.plantpono.com, by Heidi Leianuenue Bornhorst, garden columnist for the Honolulu Star Advertiser
and author of the book: Growing Native Hawaiian Plants.
This article will highlight the importance of planting pono and resources that are online to help
you make that decision.
Responsible planting is IMPORTANT
for protecting Hawaii's environment. Invasive plants are
plants that arrived in Hawai'i with people or on planes and ships, which spread uncontrollably and cause
harm to native habitats. Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to Hawai'i, our home. While the
majority of non-native plants (plants from elsewhere) in Hawai'i are either beneficial or harmless to our
environment, a small percent are invasive—they spread and negatively impact native Hawaiian plants
and animals, agricultural crops, water resources and the health and well being of residents.
- It is LEGAL to import into Hawai'i 99.9% of the 250,000+ plant species that exist on Earth, even
ones that are known to be harmfully invasive in similar habitats.
- Agencies do not stop the importation or sale of plants unless they are specifically listed on the
very limited Noxious Weed lists.
- Of the 250,000+ plants in the world, 10% will be invasive if imported and grown in Hawai'i
- Most people don't realize that some plants being sold on the internet or in garden shops could be
harmful to the environment. Others don't realize that birds and the wind can easily carry seeds
far beyond their gardens or yards.
What can we do? Plant Pono!
Planting Pono
means taking care to make good planting decisions. Here are three ways you can Plant
Pono
:
- When buying plants, ask for native Hawaiian plants or plants that are non-invasive (ones that
don't spread easily).
- Gather information. The Native Plants Hawaii webpage, www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu, has
information on native plant care and availability. Or, if you have a non-native plant in mind, use a
search engine to get more information. Just type the name of the plant (common or botanical
name) with the words "invasive" and "Hawai'i" to see if conservation groups are trying to control
it. If so, please consider using a different plant.
- Use the Hawai'i Pacific Weed Risk Assessment (HPWRA) system. The HPWRA is a free, nonregulatory
"background check" of non-native plants to assess whether they may be invasive in
Hawai'i. Visit the Hawaii Pacific Weed Risk Assessment website (www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/
daehler/WRA/ or www.hpwra.org) to see the list of plants that have been assessed.
- If your plant isn't on the list, you can have a Weed Risk Assessment Specialist assess the plant
for free. Email plant names or questions to hpwra@yahoo.com.
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