Table of Contents

Nā Kumulāʻau

Here be information about trees.

Notes for the Committee of Trees

Ke Kōmike Kumulāʻau
Nā Māla Kaiāulu o Mānoa

Hi Mānoa gardeners. Can enter notes on tree-related things here, if want.

Tree lists

List of trees and other tall growing plants with extensive root systems that have been observed in the garden.

No. Plant Name Is it a tree? Will it produce in a pot? Description Notes
1 Marunguy, kalumungay [Moringa oleifera] Potential Tree Yes mature 35 ft. Spreading trunk Fast growing. Very healthy for eating.
2 breadfruit, ʻulu [Artocarpus altilis] Tree No to 85 feet
3 soursop, cherimoya, sweetsop, etc. [Annona reticulata, Annona cherimola and annona squamosa] Tree No 25-30 feet mature
4 papaya [carica papaya] Potential Tree Yes, Dwarf common 16-33 (dwarf 6-8 feet)
5 fig [Ficus carica] Tree Yes 10-30 feet mature
6 banana [musa spp.] Tree No to 23 ft. mature (dwarf cavendish 10 ft)
7 fiddlewood [Citharexylum spinosum] Tree to 40 feet
8 acacia [acacia spp.] Tree 40-70 feet (depends on species)
9 avocado [Persea americana] Tree No common avocado to 80 feet
10 guava, guayaba [Psidium guajava] Tree Yes 20ft. mature
11 pomegranate [Punica granatum] Tree Yes, Dwarf dwarf to 4ft; mature to 30ft
12 Star Fruit [Averrhoa Caramboia] Tree No 20-35 feet tall
13 CITRUS [citrus spp.] lemon, lime, calamansi, markrut lime, tangerine, kumquat, etc. see individual plant types Yes dwarf 2-8 feet. Mature regular lemon or lime citrus to 25 feet. Some citrus species, e.g. jabon (pomelo) [citrus maxima] to 50 feet need to look at each species (see below)
14 plumeria [Plumeria rubra] Tree Yes 5-25 feet (dwarf 12 feet)
15 Surinam cherry [Eugenia uniflora] Tree Yes to 25 feet
16 Sugar cane, kō [perennial] Not a Tree Yes to 12 feet spreading plant
17 mulberry Tree red, 70 feet; white, 80 feet
18 pigeon peas (gandules) (yellow pea - legumes) [Cajanus cajan or Cajanus indicus] Potential Tree 3-10 ft.; 6 ft tap root
19 Crown Flower [Calotropis gigantea] Potential Tree Yes to 13 feet
20 cassava, yuca, manioc [Manihot esculenta] Not a Tree Shrub 3-6.5 feet after a few months, entire plant is dug up to harvest roots
21 Castor [Ricinus communis] Potential Tree 6-10 feet mature
22 honeysuckle [lonicera japonica] Not a Tree Yes shrubs to 10 feet
23 Bougainvillea [Bougainvillea spp.] Potential Tree Yes
24 Ti plant, kī [Cordyline fruticosa] Not a Tree Yes 3-10 feet, depending on cultivar
25 curry tree [Murraya koenigii] Potential Tree Yes 6-15 feet
26 hibiscus flower [Hibiscus moscheutos] Potential Tree Yes mature can reach 10-12 feet tall
27 'Tongan hibiscus' edible hibiscus leaf [Abelmoschus manihot] Potential Tree Yes Can reach 10 feet if not pruned
28 Roselle [Hibiscus sabdariffa] and Cranberry hibiscus [Hibiscus acetosella] Edible calyxes for tea and edible leaves Not a Tree only mentioned here for clarification when discussing hibiscus
29 Rose of Sharon [Hibiscus syriacus] Potential Tree 8-12 feet
30 Chaya Not a Tree
31 Corn Not a Tree
32 Okra Not a Tree
33 Coffee
34 Meyer Lemon ? ? ?
35 Lime ? ? ?
36 Calamansi ? ? ?
37 Makrut Lime ? ? ?
38 Tangerine ? ? ?
39 Kumquat ? ? ?
40 Pamelo, jabon ? ? ?
41 Bay ? ? ?

List of trees that might grow well in pots if kept under five feet

Proposed Rule Changes to Discuss

Previous tree rule:

17. No Trees can be planted or grown in the garden plots.

The following rule change was approved by the Garden at the July meeting and must be posted for 30 days and confirmed in order for it to become an official Garden Rule.

Pending tree rule:

No trees can be planted in the ground within the garden plots. Trees can be grown in pots, but pots must be raised off the ground with at least 3 inches of air flow underneath, in order to prevent potted trees from rooting into the ground. The overall 5 foot height limit still applies. The measure point of the 5 foot height limit is based from the brick pavers upward. “Trees” refer to “trees and/or other potentially tall plants with deep/extensive root systems” that are classified as trees for the purposes of the Mānoa Community Gardens.

The following discussion was tabled for the next meeting:

Possible changes:

  1. Trees in the Ground

Should trees be allowed in the ground? (Following a set of guidelines determined by the tree committee.)

Language from June Garden Meeting: Tree in ground, Ask PERMISSION to plant EACH tree. To ensure that the gardener will be a RESPONSIBLE tree manager. Approval must be given* before planting.
*Tree list determined by a committee. What is a tree vs. what is a shrub? Anyone can volunteer to be on the committee.

Sample proposal presented at July Meeting:

No trees can be planted in the ground within the garden plots.* Trees can be grown in pots, but pots must be raised off the ground with at least 3 inches of air flow underneath, in order to prevent potted trees from rooting into the ground. The overall 5 foot height limit still applies. The measure point of the 5 foot height limit is based from the brick pavers upward. “Trees” refer to “trees and/or other potentially tall plants with deep/extensive root systems” that are classified as trees for the purposes of the Mānoa Community Gardens.
*Exception: Gardeners can request permission to plant specific “trees” that can be maintained as shrubs within garden plots, agreeing to follow guidelines created by the tree committee. This agreement assumes that once a plant is no longer in compliance with the guidelines, the gardener will agree to remove it from the ground.

Other possible language:

No trees* can be planted in the ground within the garden plots. Trees can be grown in pots, but pots must be raised off the ground with at least 3 inches of air flow underneath.
*Exception: Gardener can request permission to plant specific shrubs/small trees within garden plots, agreeing to follow guidelines created by the tree committee. This agreement assumes that once a shrub is no longer in compliance with the guidelines, the gardener will agree to remove the shrub from the ground before it turns into a tree.

or

Trees can be grown in the ground. Gardener must request permission to plant specific trees within garden plots, agreeing to follow guidelines created by the tree committee. This agreement assumes that once a tree is no longer in compliance with the guidelines, the gardener will agree to remove the tree.

Sample Guidelines

The tree committee has started a list of acceptable trees–plants that can either be maintained as shrubs or at levels that do not negatively affect the garden community. Possible rules include a trunk size limit, and minimum distance from the walkway pavers. The 5 foot height restriction would still apply. The tree list is based on various factors, including root systems, growth potential, etc. Permission will be granted to the gardener if their tree planting meets the guideline restrictions and they sign (either in paper or electronically) an acknowledgement that they are familiar with the rules and will abide by them. This will also include an acknowledgement that once a plant has grown larger than the allowable trunk size, they will remove it from the ground. In regards to height, this could be applied to repeat height violations (which would demonstrate an incapacity of the gardener to maintain a “potential tree” within their plot). Permission could be acquired from the board, perhaps, and in cases that are not covered by the existing guidelines, consultation with the tree committee can be requested.

Things to keep in mind: Type of tree. Root system. Trunk size. Height. Rapidity of growth. Placement within plot. Location of plot. Number of trees.