The following tree seedlings are available to order from the State of Hawaii Division of

Forestry and Wildlife, State Tree Nursery:

Scientific Name: Common Name: Dibble/ Pot size:

Acacia koa……………………… Koa……………………………….. Small
Acacia koaia……………………... Koai’a……………………………. Small
Araucaria columnaris…………….. Norfolk-island Pine……………… Small
Cryptomeria japonica……………. Sugi Pine………………………… Small
Cupressus lusitanica……………... Mexican Cypress………………… Small
Cupressus macrocarpa…………… Monterey Cypress……………….. Small
Cupressus simpervirens………….. Italian Cypress…………………… Medium
Eucalyptus deglupta……………… Rainbow Bark……………………. Small
Eucalyptus robusta……………….. Swamp Mahogany……………….. Small
Metrosideros polymorpha……….. Ohia……………………………… Medium or 3” pot
Pinus elliotii……………………… Slash Pine………………………... Small
Pinus radiata……………………... Monterey Pine…………………… Small
Podocarpus sp……………………. Podocarpus………………………. 3” pot
Santalum sp……………………… Sandalwood……………………… Medium or 3” pot
Tristania conferta………………… Brush Box………………………... Small

Acacia koa (Koa): This large hardwood tree is endemic

to the Hawaiian Islands. The tree has exceeded 100 ft
in height with basal diameter far beyond 50 inches in
old growth stands. The wood is prized for furniture and
canoe works. This legume has pods with black seeds
for reproduction. The wood has similar properties to
that of black walnut. The yellow flowers are borne in
dense round heads about 2@ in diameter. Tree growth
is best above 800 ft; seems to grow best in the ‘Koa
belt’ which is situated at an elevation range between
3,500 - 6,000 ft. It is often found in areas where there is
fog in the late afternoons. It should be planted in well-
drained fertile soils. Grazing animals relish the Koa
foliage, so young seedlings should be protected

Acacia koaia (Koaia): Related to the Koa, Koaia is

native to Hawaii. The leaves and flowers are much the
same as Koa. A much smaller tree than the Koa, it
grows to about 30 ft in height with trunks less than 2 ft
in diameter. Pods are narrow and linear. Twigs are
slender, light brown and smooth. Bark is rough and
corrugated. Wood is harder than the giant Koa.
Probably prefers drier climate and open sunlight below
3,000 ft in elevation. Koaia is becoming rare and listed
as a Federal Species of Concern.
Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island Pine): A large
evergreen tree with a straight trunk, slightly drooping
horizontal branches and narrow pyramidal shape. Can
reach heights of over 100 ft and trunks can exceed 3 ft in
diameter. This species is tolerant of both wind and salt,
making it suitable for costal plantings. While strong and
durable the straw colored wood is rarely knot free, and is
used mostly for turning and carving

Cryptomeria japonica (Sugi Pine): Large evergreen tree

reaching heights of up to 80 ft with a straight trunk and
large base. Reddish brown bark, with dull bluish-green
needle like leaves, grows best in moist elevations between
2,500 - 6,000 ft. This is the national tree of Japan, where
it remains one of the most important timber trees. The
wood is durable, lightweight, and aromatic, with whitish
yellow sapwood and reddish brown heartwood.

Cupressus lusitanica (Mexican Cypress): These are

evergreen coniferous trees introduced as an ornamental,
windbreak, or shaped Christmas tree. This aromatic tree
reaches heights of over 50 ft, and is a rapid grower under
fertile conditions. Grows well at elevations below 3,000
ft, and is not likely to be drought tolerant. Cones are 1" or
less in diameter. For windbreak use should be planted 10
to 12 ft apart.

Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress): Medium to

large introduced aromatic evergreen; grows up to 110 ft
tall with a conical or spreading crown. Grows well
between 1,500 and 5,000 ft elevation mostly on leeward
sides. Taller, but not as fast growing as Mexican Cypress,
and with more shallow roots. Monterey Cypress is best
suited as the middle or inner row of a multiple row
windbreak, spaced 10 to 12 ft apart.
Cupressus simpervirens (Italian Cypress): A tall, narrow,
columnar evergreen with stiff, symmetrical, erect branches.
The quadrangular branchlets spread in all directions and
have dark grey-green leaves. The cones are over 1” in
diameter. Commonly planted in formal gardens and used for
borders. May be planted as hedges with proper trimming.
This introduced conifer does best in sunny locations.

Eucalyptus deglupta (Rainbow Bark): The Rainbow

Bark tree is typically a rapid growing, large tree (100 -160
ft) that prefers mid to low elevations and deep soils. The
smooth bark peels in log strips exposing mottled colors of
pink, purple, orange and green. It is not recommended for
residential areas because of its enormous size, but is good
for open pastures and timber plantings. The wood is pale
reddish brown and is used in cabinetry.

Eucalyptus robusta (Swamp Mahogany): A tall,

symmetrical tree recognized by the thick soft reddish-brown
bark. It is particularly adapted to wet, swampy conditions
and will grow under most soil conditions found in Hawaii.
Swamp Mahogany is a very fast grower that can be topped
and pruned to produce succulent water sprout growth to give
more foliage at the base of the tree. Although an excellent
center row windbreak tree, the main bole sometimes breaks
in a strong wind. However, re-growth at the breakage point
provides better coverage and protection. The Swamp
Mahogany does well up to 4,000 ft in elevation.
Recommended windbreak spacing 10-15 ft.

Metrosideros polymorpha (Ohia): A native plant to

Hawaii that grows quite tall, over 80 ft in height in certain
locations. This tree has a very broad range of growing
tolerance from near sea level to over 6,000 ft elevation. The
Ohia is the most abundant tree in vast areas of the Hawaiian
forest. Ohia is able to incur heavy pruning and is capable of
growing in rocky locations, even in lava fields. The red
flowered Ohia is most prevalent, but colors can range from
red to salmon to yellow.
Pinus elliotii (Slash Pine): A fast growing southern pine
reaching heights over 75 feet, with a long straight trunk and
branches in horizontal rings. Tree grows a full, rounded
crown with long (7-9”), glossy needles in clusters of two or
three, has red-brown cones that can be up to 5” long, and
thick plate-like bark that peels off in flat scaly plates. Slash
pine prefers humid climates and moist soils, and grows best
at elevations above 2,000 ft.

Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine): A large, fast growing pine

that tolerates a wide range of soil types and climates.
Species grows with a straight trunk and slightly to strongly
upward angled branches to heights of up to 150 ft at
elevations ranging from 1,500-7,500 ft. Needles are shiny
green, bark is a dull gray, and wood is pale brown.
Monterey pine is the most common pine used for plantation
timber in the southern hemisphere.

Podocarpus sp. (Podocarpus): This is a good size

evergreen conifer that attains a height of over 60 ft. The
crown is quite dense and it provides shade cover at the base
of the tree. This evergreen can grow in various types of soil
and does best above sea level but below 5,000 ft. It requires
full sunlight and can be used for reforestation and
windbreak. New plants can be obtained from cuttings or
from seed. Introduced to Hawaii and used for reforestation
Santalum sp. (Sandalwood / Iliahi): Hawaiian
sandalwoods include several species. Some are shrubs
while others become moderately large trees. The
Sandalwood grown here grows in rather dry areas to
elevations above 5,000 ft, although it probably could do
well at lower elevations, but not near the ocean. Our
endemic Sandalwood is a rather small tree up to 20 ft tall
and wide spreading with trunk diameters to 12". Leaves are
yellowish-green and shiny above, pale green below, thick
and pinnately veined. The bark is rough and broken into
plates. The wood is tan, hard and fragrant. Sandalwoods
are root parasites which make them an oddity among trees.
Fruit is 2 inch or more oval in shape turning from green to
purple when ripe.

Tristania conferta (Brush Box): This tree normally grows

to 60 ft in height but trees grown in wet areas in Hawaii
have exceeded 80'. Seedlings should be planted in moist
well drained soil at elevations from 200 to 2,000 ft. This is
a handsome shade tree from Australia and is classed as
moderately resistant to decay and termites and is drought
tolerant. It is a hardy low-branching, dense tree related to
Eucalyptus. The root system is strong and massive. It can
tolerate heavy and repeated pruning thus making the foliage
denser and well suited for a windbreak or ornamental tree.
Because of its re-sprouting and low branches, Brush Box
can be used as an outside row tree in a multiple row
windbreak, or alone in a multiple row windbreak. Plant 10-
15 ft apart, 10-15 ft between rows. (picture by J.B. Friday)