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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
- lemon
- lime
- kumquat
- calamondin
- acerola
- Surinam cherry
- cabeluda
- pomegranate
- jaboticaba
- miracle berry.
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:
- 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.
