The Hawai'i tropical low shrublands occupy the dry, leeward lowlands of the main Hawaiian Islands, blanketing the lowest slopes of the larger islands and nearly all of the smaller ones such as Lāna'i, Kaho'olawe, and Ni'ihau (the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands form a separate ecoregion). The vegetation is a mix of native grasslands and coastal shrublands carpeted in low-growing plants, dominated by 'ilima (Sida fallax), 'a'ali'i (Dodonaea viscosa), naupaka (Scaevola), pūkiawe (Styphelia tameiameiae), and the grass kāwelu (Eragrostis variabilis). This is the driest of all lowland habitats in the archipelago, with rainfall concentrated in the winter months, giving it a tropical-savanna character. More than 90 percent of its plant species are found nowhere else, including the flagship 'ōhai (Sesbania tomentosa), and the small flowers are pollinated by native Hawaiian yellow-faced bees; today the ecoregion is rated critically endangered, with little intact habitat left after losses to development, fire, feral animals, and invasive species. For drought-tolerant native plantings, the shrubland's own 'ilima, naupaka, and 'a'ali'i are well-suited ornamental choices.

At a glance

About the tropical & subtropical grasslands, savannas & shrublands biome

Warm grasslands and savannas where grasses dominate and trees are scattered, maintained by seasonal rainfall, grazing, and fire. They support large herbivore communities and respond sharply to wet–dry cycles.

Catalog plants suited to this ecoregion

No catalog plants intersect this ecoregion's zone range. As the catalog grows to cover this region's climate band, suggestions will surface here.

Collections for this ecoregion

No curated collection's plants all fit this ecoregion's zone range. We surface a collection only when every member would grow here — partial fits get filtered out rather than mislead. As the catalog and the curated set both grow, this section will fill in.

Related ecoregions