Native Plant Propagation
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Propagation of native plants is cornerstone to restoration projects conducted across the Ranch. Seeds for propagation are sourced from plants across the Ranch. A diversity of seed stock is collected from a variety of locales to increase the genetic diversity of a given taxa in outplantings.
Seed collections are either processed and sown fresh, or placed in short-term storage for future use. Plants are grown in a facility at our Ka’a’awa Agriculture Center. Greenhouse phytosanitation and reintroduction considerations are made and each plant is cleaned and inspected before outplanting.
Our greenhouse is located in Ka’a’awa near the agriculture center. We propagate via cuttings, spores, and seeds. We take multiple trips to our native plant locations to closely monitor seed maturation. Seed collection methods vary depending on species; however, we generally collect seeds when they are fully ripe. Grass and sedge seeds are either stripped or clipped from the stem when brown and mostly dry. We allow for fruits to fully ripen and for the seedpods to turn from green to brown.
Ideally, at least 50 percent of the seed crop at a given site is left intact to allow for natural recruitment. We gps each individual founder and enter that information into our database. To help prevent significant losses in genetic diversity, we collect from many individuals in different areas around the Ranch. Sampling collections are brought back to the stewardship bay for proper cleaning and organization. Those samples are either sown fresh or put in storage.
- Acacia koa (Koa)
- Alyxia stellata (Maile)
- Bidens populifolia (Koʻokoʻolau)
- Bobea elatior (‘Ahakea)
- Carex wahuensis (O’ahu sedge)
- Chenopodium oahuense (ʻĀweoweo)
- Chrysodracon halapepe (Hala pepe)
- Cyperus javanicus (‘Ahu’awa)
- Dianella sandwicensis (‘uki ‘uki)
- Dodonaea viscosa (‘A’ali’i)
- Eragrostis variabilis (Kāwelu)
- Freycenetia arborea (‘ie‘ie)
- Sapindus oahuensis (Lonomea)
- Metrosideros sp. (ʻōhiʻa)
- Microlepia strigosa (Palapalai)
- Myrsine lessertiana (Kolea)
- Pisonia umbellifera (Pāpala kēpau)
- Pittosporum glabrum (Ho’awa)
- Polyscias sandwicensis (‘Ohe Makai)
- Hibiscus arnottianus subsp. punaluensis (Koki’o ke’oke’o)
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