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Puakenikeni
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Posted by nbattad HI (My Page) on Mon, Aug 16, 04 at 19:00
| Does anyone have puakenikeni in their yard? If so, what is the average height of puakenikeni. We mistakenly (not really) bought 4 little puakenikeni's thinking they were a small fern-like groundcover which we planted in a small window-front area of the house. To our surprise, the plants turned out to be puakenikeni (lowes didn't have labels on the plants and my wife just thought they looked good for color.)
Anyway, now knowing what they are, we are thinking of the "right" place to put them.
Questions:
How much space do they need (wide)?
How tall can they get?
Can you keep on trimming them back to a height of about 6 feet?
Anyone know about their roots possibly being close to a rock wall?
Thanks in advance.... |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Puakenikeni
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| Puakenikeni translates as "ten cent flower". The blooms were used for leis and sold for ten cents. Not any more. They are large bushes or small trees and can be kept pruned to smaller sizes. They can easliy be kept to six feet and three or four foot wide. They like sun, moisture and rich organic soil. Mine is blooming now and has a strong sweet smell. I didn't notice the bloom until I walked by and could smell it. The flowers are light yellow and turn to a orange, gold color. You will enjoy your mistake if you have a place for it. Plant 4 in a row or one under a window near the house or patio. It is a neat evergreen. Good luck
Phil |
RE: Puakenikeni
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| Hey thanks for the info. just a couple more questions if possible. When you say "plant 4 in a row", how far apart would you plant them?
Also, how are the puakenikeni's roots when planted close to a rock wall. Thanks... |
RE: Puakenikeni
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Aloha;
Since you said you had four plants, they would make a good grouping. I would plant them about 4 foot apart. At least 3 ft. I don't see how a wall would effect the roots. They would seek their own path of least resistance. I would plant them at least 2 ft from the wall to give the plant room to grow. I hope this helps. Good luck.
Phil |
RE: Puakenikeni
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| Thanks.. will do... will let you know how it goes... |
RE: Puakenikeni
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| I've heard that as a general rule of thumb, trees' roots tend to spread out to the same diameter as the canopy. I don't know how this applies if you keep the canopy trimmed though. I don't know if the roots keep growing to the size the canopy would be if left un-checked, or if they will only grow as big as needed to maintain the canopy. |
RE: Puakenikeni
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| I am interested in starting puakenikeni. How do I go about getting a plant started..is it possible to root it from a mother tree. If so does anyone have a starter shoot? |
RE: Puakenikeni
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| I'm from the Valley Island of Maui, and have seen a Puakenikeni tree about 40 feet tall, with a spread of 30 feet in Ioa Valley, planted in a large front yard. I have 3 Puakenikeni in my backyard and since my soil is hard clay, my trees are 10 feet high, smell out of this world (when in bloom) and planted 4 years ago. If you like how gardenia's smell, this tree, sometimes grown as a large shrub does deliver. They are worth every penny. Slower growing than many trees, they are mostly air layered, and sometimes brought into the larger home improvement gardening centers, if you can't find them in local nursery's. Not a good idea to plant them close to a wall. I'm wondering if the plants you brought home from Lowes were really Puakenikeni. They are solid green, and the flower is white to yellowish, and usually it takes a long while to see flowers appear. Don't think it has color? Anyway whatever happened to them?????????? |
RE: Puakenikeni
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| I have a Puakenikeni tree that was given to me as a potted plant about 2 years ago. I transplanted to the ground (dirt), and for the first year, it was doing fine - blooming, growing, very green. However, for the past year, it has not bloomed at all. I have tried different fertilizers and potting soils. The tree is doing very well, aside from producing NO flowers. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance. |
RE: Puakenikeni
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| I am wondering if epson salt can be as valuable to Puakenikeni as it is to plumeria and pikake. If so what is the recommended application? Thanks. |
RE: Puakenikeni
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| My puakinikini has a LOT of bulbs. Very few flowers. I was told to remove the bulbs and flowers will generate from that. Not sure if it was good advise or not. Any suggestions? |
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