Kadua cordata

Common Names

Kopa

Summary

A Hawaiian-endemic Rubiaceae shrub or subshrub known as kopa, it grows as a mostly unbranched, upright to climbing dwarf shrub with stems 0.6–6 m long and occurs on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, and Maui in wet tropical forests and moderately moist habitats at elevations of 400–1820 m.

Conservation-focused cultivation and management include captive propagation and genetic storage, with 37 seeds collected in 2010 and 10 potted plants maintained at the Olinda Rare Plant Facility (2013). Subspecies remyi is federally endangered and known only from Lanai, with as few wild individuals remaining (one wild seedling as of 2018). Protection efforts involve fencing to exclude ungulates, removal of invasive species and predators, and ongoing propagation and genetic storage under the Plant Extinction Prevention Program, while reintroduction attempts at Hulopoʻe (2010) produced no lasting survivors by 2015; future actions emphasize surveys for additional populations, continued propagation and genetic storage, climate-adaptation research, and strengthened partnerships.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2 ft-19 ft 8 in

Bloom Color

Light green, greenish yellow, greenish white, cream-colored, rarely violet-spotted petals

Foliage Color

Blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

Blue-green

Propagation Methods

Seeds