How to Grow Hawaiian Tree Ferns
The Hawaiian tree fern (Cibotium splendens) is called the hapu‘u. You will see them in abundance at higher elevations in Hawai‘i, especially on the Big Island near Volcanoes National Park. This slow-growing native can get quite large in the wild--up to 25 feet tall. The fronds can grow huge and can spread 10 feet or more from tip to tip. If you live at a higher elevation in Hawai‘i, the hapu‘u is an attractive native plant that will thrive with very little care. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hawaiian tree fern plant
- Shady location
- Rich humus or compost
- Shovel
- Water
Instructions
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How to plant your tree fern
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Dig a hole just large enough for your young tree fern. The soil does not need to be well cultivated.
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Drop your tree fern into the hole and brace it upright with stones in the bottom of the planting hole before you fill it with humus or compost.
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3
Fill the hole with humus or compost and then tamp the surface well.
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4
Water thoroughly, making sure to wet the trunk and ground thoroughly. Then keep your young plant moist until signs of new growth begin to appear. After young fronds begin to open, cut back on water, but do not allow it to dry out completely.
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Tips & Warnings
Although hapu‘u are not endangered, it is important not to dig them from the wild. They are available at most nurseries in Hawai‘i.
Hapu‘u does much better above a 500-foot elevation, such as around Volcanoes National Park, which is 4000 feet at Kilauea caldera. It does not like to exist close to the ocean because it’s generally too warm for this fern. It doesn’t do well in very windy areas and prefers protected forest settings, especially in and around native ‘ohi‘a trees.
During windy weather, water your plant more often or the fronds can dry out.
Although the hapu‘u looks similar to the Australian tree fern, be careful not to accidentally buy this non-native invader.
Hapu‘u are not generally affected by insect pests or diseases, but feral pigs and goats can be a problem if they uproot young hapu‘u plants. If you are planting hapu‘u in an area where these invaders live, be sure to protect your plant(s) with fencing.
Hapu‘u can be grown in containers for indoor display, but prefer to live outdoors.
In ancient times, the brown silky “pulu” on hapu‘u stems was used as an absorbent surgical dressing, for embalming and as pillow and mattress stuffing. The starchy “flesh” inside the trunk was eaten during times of famine and was also used as medicine for blood purification and for stimulating the appetite.
- Photo Credit Drawn by Terry Lee
Comments
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I had two haupu fern stumps initially they did well and thru the years one died and the other branches were getting smaller. I decided to fertilize and the fern just started to grow as it did 15 years ago. I water them on a regular basis with one sprinkler on the top middle of the stump.
