Nānū (Gardenia brighamii)

Hawaiian name: Nānū also Nā‘ū
Botanical name: Gardenia brighamii
Family: Rubiaceae (Coffee Family)
Status: Endemic, Endangered
Where found: Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Hawai‘i & O‘ahu
Water/Light: Dry, with full sun exposure
Elevation range: 1,0000 to 1,700 feet
Height: Up to 40 feet, with an up to 20-foot spread

Photo: David Eickhoff

Notes: Originally thought to inhabit all eight Hawaiian islands; nānū (Hawaii's native gardenia) is nearly extinct in its native habitat. Nānū wood was fashioned into kapa anvils (kua kuku) and the fragrant flowers were made into beautiful lei. The intense orange-yellow colored pulp of the fruit was used to dye kapa. Nānū is drought and wind tolerant, but can be susceptible to the same pests that like other plants in this family, like spider mites, scale, and sooty mold.

From Work Done by Whit Germano to Catalog Native Hawaiian Plants
MNBG

Please Consider
Making a Donation

A Few Native Hawaiian Plants from the MNBG Collection

Click the Links Below for Plant Information

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.