QUESTION: What kind of fern is this? It’s not hapuu (native Hawaiian tree fern), right? It’s hard to cut down too!
And if I want to dig up a keiki, how do I do that? — Roy and Sanae Vierra, Kaneohe
ANSWER: At first, I thought from the description that it was that noxious alien species known as an Australian tree fern. Landscape-maintenance personnel dislike that fern because it’s itchy to deal with. As a native Hawaiian plant proponent, and watershed advocate, I really disdain that alien plant because its millions of spores are widely dispersed and can invade and dry out intact rainforests.
But it turned out to be a “dinosaur plant,” which scientists know as Cycas revoluta. It’s a good-luck plant in Hawaii, especially for Okinawans, who call it “sotetsu,” according to Sanae Vierra.
How to transplant a keiki dinosaur plant, or ‘sotetsu’:
1. Mulch the area around the trunk with high-quality leafy compost.
2. Water it and wait a week if you can, watering the soil daily.
3. Use a balling spade or ditch shovel to cut straight down between the main truck and the keiki.
4. Use a pick and the spade to dig around the keiki; try to get roots.
5. Place the keiki in individual pots and water daily.
6. Give as gifts and perpetuate this Okinawan good-luck plant.
This classic slow-growing plant used to be found in many Hawaii gardens. Every year the plant sends up a stalk of fresh leaves that are soft at first, then turn tough and shiny. The renewal of leaves is a lucky sign of new growth. The plants are also xeric, or less thirsty plants, and are good for xeriscapes.
Unfortunately, the dinosaur plants were targeted by an alien pest — a very tenacious scale insect. The first I heard of it was when I got a call from expert plantsman and landscape designer Leland Miyano.
“You have bunch of nice Cycas revoluta growing at Hale Koa,” he said. “Better go check ’em for this new escapee.” I did and yikes! Our grove of Cycas was infested. We treated the plants with various insecticides, Volck oil and more. We also tried cutting off the infested fronds. Finally, we gave up and removed the plants, not wanting to expose staff or guests to harmful pesticides. It was a bummer because everyone really enjoyed the grove of sotetsu.
Lots of folks got rid of them in their home gardens, too. So, this once-common lucky plant ran into bad times. But the pests have subsided, and we now see many healthy sotetsu in landscapes.
Happily, the Vierras’ plant looks clean and healthy. So they can have good luck and a somewhat unusual plant for their garden (and some keiki to share with others).
LUCKY PLANTS APLENTY
In addition to dinosaur plants, we have many good-luck plants in Hawaii. These include green Hawaiian ti leaf (aka ki or lai), money tree (Dracaena marginata), bamboo and jade plant.
We also love to collect “lucky beans” that wash up on the beach. My friend Elaine did this with her moopuna (grandchildren) along Kailua Beach after big recent rainstorms. Also called sea beans or hamburger beans, they are species of Mucuna and Dioclea, which grow on big woody vines, called liana, deep in our valleys.
Rainstorms wash the seeds downstream and onto our beaches. Look for different varieties — tan ones, leopard-spotted ones and more. You can try growing them, too. Nick the seed, soak it 24 hours in water and then plant. But be prepared for a big vine!
NOT SO LUCKY?
Recently a prevalent new good-luck plant was selling for big bucks. Called “lucky bamboo,” it was typically grown in water. I laughed when I looked closely as it’s not a bamboo, but a Dracaena. Growing it in water is great, but only if you change the water every three to five days. If not your “luck” will turn to mosquito bites!
Heidi Bornhorst is a sustainable landscape consultant specializing in native, xeric and edible gardens. Reach her at heidibornhorst@gmail.com.
