Lobelia is one of six genera in the Campanulaceae that naturally occur in Hawai'i. The others are endemic genera believed to have evolved form a single ancestor of Lobelia. Many of the Hawaiian lobeliads are honey eater pollinated. Sadly many of the them and their bird pollinators are extinct. Lobelia niihauensis is a rare and endangered species that occurs on the dry cliffs of O'ahu, Kaua'i, and, Ni'ihau. It grows well in containers and I am hoping in the future it will be more available to Hawaii gardeners.
Whole plant being grown in a 2gal tall pot at The Nature Conservancy's Kunia nursery.
I've seen Clermontia(?) (haven't studied the subject in years) and Trematolobelia flowering on the ridges between Honolulu and the north side, but not this one. With the dangerous topography and large federal holdings, closed/restricted watersheds on the older islands I wonder if all the surviving populations of lobeliads etc. are actually known and assessed.
My family dates back to the 19th century in Hawaii but the last of us moved to the mainland recently so I may never be back, unless sometime I decide I need to talk to same burial markers before I die myself. The last one to end in Hawaii was laid to rest in Punchbowl cemetary, 98 years after she was born over there.
