Lysimachia hillebrandii

Common Names

Kolokolo Kuahiwi, Kolekole lehua, Kolokolo lehua, Puahekili

Summary

Endemic to Hawaiʻi, this sprawling shrub features reddish-brown, striate bark with stems 40–250 cm long and young parts that are rusty-tomentose before becoming glabrate; leaves are alternate, thin and coriaceous, 22–90 mm long and 8–45 mm wide with conspicuous veins, and leaf tips range from acuminate to attenuate with bases from cuneate to attenuate; flowers hang downward from leaf bases, are solitary in axils, and display a reddish-purple to burgundy campanulate corolla 10–20 mm long with obovate to narrowly obovate lobes, while pedicels are 12–37 mm (el elongating to 20–45 mm in fruit) and bloom lasts about a week or longer with many blossoms per branch.

Across Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Maui, it grows in open areas of moist to wet forests at elevations of 2,000–5,000 feet; propagation occurs by seeds in capsules about 3/8 inch in diameter with nearly black, very small seeds, and germination data from a related species show about 86% germination on the surface taking over five months; propagation by cuttings has limited success, with one rooted out of five trials, and no information on division is available; cultural uses include longevity and beauty for leis, and landscape uses favor a backdrop to highlight flowers in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil and regular watering.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-8 feet

Spread

20-24 inches

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to full shade

Soil Type

Well-drained, moist soil rich in organic matter, pH 6.0–7.0.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, moist soil

Soil pH

6.0-7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Bloom Color

Purple to burgundy

Foliage Color

Dark green

Growth Rate

Moderate growth rate; varies with environmental conditions.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators