8 Take-Home Planting Ideas From Hawaiis Big Island
Face it, you can't duplicate exactly the lush look and blissfulness of Hawaiian gardens on the U.S. mainland — just as a mai tai at sunset won't taste the same off the islands. But it's pretty easy to add some island touches. Most of the plants that give Hawaii its tropical beauty originated in other parts of the world, and some do well on the mainland and actually may be downright common. Several make outstanding one-and-done summer container plants. Here are planting ideas from Hawaii to make your garden as comfortable and colorful as an aloha shirt.
1. Work with the old reliables. Originally from tropical Asia, hibiscus is a symbol of Hawaii and makes a fine medium-size evergreen shrub in many parts of California and other mild climates. It's a perfect summer container plant. Start with nursery plants in bud or already blooming and you should have flowers from spring through fall.
Botanical name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Common name: Hibiscus USDA zones: 10 to 11 Water requirement: Moderate or more; don't let the soil dry out Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 8 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide (bigger in the tropics) Growing tips: Good choices for pots include 'Erin Rachel' as well as members of the Breeze series or Luau series, generally reaching 2 to 3 feet.
2. Play with foliage. Much of Hawaii's look comes from the way gardeners (and nature) combine foliage colors and textures. Here the bold purplish leaves of ti plant(Cordyline fruticosa) contrast with the bright green lacy leaves of a fern called Laua'e. Ti plant is a popular houseplant anywhere and can be grown outdoors in summer or all year in the mildest zones. The leaves come in many colors, including variegated. It's an excellent container plant.
Botanical name: Cordyline fruticosa Common name: Ti plant USDA zone: 11 Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun or partial shade Mature size: 6 feet and taller, and 4 feet and wider (in the ground) Growing tips: Move indoor ti plants outdoors well after the frost danger has passed.
3. Experiment with tropicals. Pink Powder Puff, aptly named for its flowers, appears infrequently on the mainland. But you can grow it in the mildest climates. It's a sprawling evergreen shrub.
Botanical name: Calliandra haematocephala Common name: Pink Powder Puff USDA zones: 9 to 11 Water requirement: Regular to frequent; needs moist soil Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: Up to 10 feet tall or more Growing tips: The best spot is against a sunny wall, where its loose growth habit means it can be trained into an espalier.
Secret Gardens
4. Create a potful of Hawaii. A number of popular Hawaiian plants make nice container plants for summer patios. Bougainvillea grows quickly in a container and can be moved indoors or into shelter for the winter. Plant it in a pot in spring and you can have a showy display by midsummer. It's best to choose one of the compact varieties, such as 'Singapore Pink', 'Temple Fire' or 'Purple Queen'. Take special care when planting not to break up the root ball — bougainvillea is sensitive about this.
Botanical name: Bougainvillea, many varieties Common name: Bougainvillea USDA zones: 9 to 11 Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: Vining types can reach 30 feet; compact types, 2 to 6 feet tall Growing tips: For top bloom keep the container soil on the dry side. Vines need support to climb; tie branches to a trellis or wall. Prune in spring after the frost. Keep plants bushy by cutting back stringy stems during the growing season.
5. Move indoor plants outdoors. Bromeliads make striking houseplants everywhere and reliable container plants in Hawaii (the pineapple is a bromeliad!) and the mildest climates. This Neoregelia is one of many prized for its colorful foliage as well as flowers.
Botanical name: Neoregelia, many species Common name: Neoregelia USDA zones: Subtropical and tropical climates for outdoor use Water requirement: Keep the cup formed by its leaves filled with water. Light requirement: Shade in the garden; put it near light from a window indoors Mature size: 8 inches to much taller Growing tips: Place it outdoors for the summer, but keep it in a shady, moist spot.
6. Look again at common plants. Maybe it's the trade winds or the macadamia waffles, but many plants that we take for granted on the mainland look new and exciting in Hawaii. Consider bird-of-paradise, which can grow like a weed in much of Southern California. Give it a prominent spot in a garden or container where you can appreciate the intricate beauty of the blooms up close. Plant it just outside a window to view the blooms from indoors. Cut the flowers to bring in the house.
Botanical name:Strelitzia reginae Common name: Bird-of-paradise USDA zones: 9 to 11 Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun, or partial shade in hot climates Mature size: 5 to 6 feet tall and wide Growing tips: In marginal climates plant it under an eave for frost protection.
7. Grow a plant pretty enough for leis. On the mainland, cape plumbago is often relegated to freeway or chain-link fence duty, where it sprawls and climbs out of control. In Hawaii the baby blue blooms are considered attractive enough to go into leis. Try the evergreen shrub Hawaiian style — in a clipped hedge or even in a pot, where you can see the flowers up close from spring through fall.
Botanical name:Plumbago auriculata Common name: cape plumbago USDA zones: 9 to 11 Water requirement: Light Light requirement: Full sun or light shade Mature size: 6 feet and taller, and much wider Growing tips: Prune or shear it back to control the size in late winter or early spring.
8. Find a plum-perfect shrub. In Hawaii Natal Plum is often mistaken for other blinding white, even more fragrant plants, such as plumeria or tiare. The big difference: You can grow Natal Plum in mild mainland gardens, especially in coastal Southern California. You can prune this evergreen shrub for a low hedge or ground cover. It thrives in a container.
Botanical name:Carissa macrocarpa Common name: Natal Plum USDA zones: 10 to 11 Water requirement: Light to moderate Light requirement: Full sun or light shade Mature size: 6 feet tall and wide; more compact varieties are available Growing tips: Plant it against a wall for extra warmth and winter proctection. Beware the spines on its branches.
1. Work with the old reliables. Originally from tropical Asia, hibiscus is a symbol of Hawaii and makes a fine medium-size evergreen shrub in many parts of California and other mild climates. It's a perfect summer container plant. Start with nursery plants in bud or already blooming and you should have flowers from spring through fall. 
2. Play with foliage. Much of Hawaii's look comes from the way gardeners (and nature) combine foliage colors and textures. Here the bold purplish leaves of ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) contrast with the bright green lacy leaves of a fern called Laua'e. Ti plant is a popular houseplant anywhere and can be grown outdoors in summer or all year in the mildest zones. The leaves come in many colors, including variegated. It's an excellent container plant.
3. Experiment with tropicals. Pink Powder Puff, aptly named for its flowers, appears infrequently on the mainland. But you can grow it in the mildest climates. It's a sprawling evergreen shrub. 
Secret Gardens
4. Create a potful of Hawaii. A number of popular Hawaiian plants make nice container plants for summer patios. Bougainvillea grows quickly in a container and can be moved indoors or into shelter for the winter. Plant it in a pot in spring and you can have a showy display by midsummer. It's best to choose one of the compact varieties, such as 'Singapore Pink', 'Temple Fire' or 'Purple Queen'. Take special care when planting not to break up the root ball — bougainvillea is sensitive about this.
5. Move indoor plants outdoors. Bromeliads make striking houseplants everywhere and reliable container plants in Hawaii (the pineapple is a bromeliad!) and the mildest climates. This Neoregelia is one of many prized for its colorful foliage as well as flowers.
6. Look again at common plants. Maybe it's the trade winds or the macadamia waffles, but many plants that we take for granted on the mainland look new and exciting in Hawaii. Consider bird-of-paradise, which can grow like a weed in much of Southern California. Give it a prominent spot in a garden or container where you can appreciate the intricate beauty of the blooms up close. Plant it just outside a window to view the blooms from indoors. Cut the flowers to bring in the house. 
7. Grow a plant pretty enough for leis. On the mainland, cape plumbago is often relegated to freeway or chain-link fence duty, where it sprawls and climbs out of control. In Hawaii the baby blue blooms are considered attractive enough to go into leis. Try the evergreen shrub Hawaiian style — in a clipped hedge or even in a pot, where you can see the flowers up close from spring through fall.
8. Find a plum-perfect shrub. In Hawaii Natal Plum is often mistaken for other blinding white, even more fragrant plants, such as plumeria or tiare. The big difference: You can grow Natal Plum in mild mainland gardens, especially in coastal Southern California. You can prune this evergreen shrub for a low hedge or ground cover. It thrives in a container.