The color of ʻalaʻala wai nui wahine flowers can range from nearly white to pink to bluish purple (Nearly white flowers photograph courtesy of Andrew Evans [awevans99] CC BY-NC 4.0; bluish purple flowers photograph courtesy of Kyhl Austin CC BY-NC 4.0; pink flowers photograph courtesy of laurenbonavia CC BY-NC 4.0.). ʻAlaʻala wai nui wahine can be planted alone as an accent or en masse to create a border (Lone plant photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 2.0; en masse border photograph courtesy of Greg Koob ©.). (Header photograph courtesy of starkjacqie CC BY-NC 4.0.)

Growth Requirements

General

    ʻAlaʻala wai nui wahine is among the easiest native Hawaiian plants to grow, and can even become weedy, particularly inside a nursery, because of how frequently it flowers and how easily the tiny seeds sprout. Outside, ʻalaʻala wai nui wahine looks great as an accent; plant it in a rock garden or even in the cracks of a rock wall for maximum visibility. It can also be planted en masse, spaced a couple of feet apart, to create a low border. We prefer to grow ʻalaʻala wai nui wahine in a pot or hanging basket filled with easy-draining media so we can move it around just in case something (e.g., mouse, snail) decides to try it out as a midnight snack. It also does great indoors under LED lights or near a sunny window.  

    Coleus australis can survive in a site with full sunlight for all or most of the day. However, it will grow and look best (e.g., greener leaves) in a partially or lightly shaded location. Avoid deeply shaded sites. Whether your plant is indoors or out, keep the surrounding media or soil moist but not wet. ʻAlaʻala wai nui wahine can tolerate heat, drought, and strong winds. We have grown it in clay (where it does the worst), organic-dominant, and lava/cinder (where it does the best) soils and media. ʻAlaʻala wai nui wahine will also grow in sandy or coralline soils, and according to Greg Koob [Hawaii Horticulture], is moderately tolerant of salt spray. 

    ʻAlaʻala wai nui wahine grows fast and begins flowering when only a few months old. After fruiting, it's common for many (most) of the stems that supported an inflorescence to turn yellow and die back to the plant's base. Then, after a "rest," new branches will develop and start growing. About the same time, the numerous seeds often begin sprouting around their parent, inside nearby potted plants, in the cracks between rocks, or from the soil. These can be removed and potted — gifts for your native-Hawaiian-plant-reluctant friends — or left in place to eventually create an ʻalaʻala wai nui wahine carpet. Unfortunately, Coleus australis is a short-lived species, so don't get too upset when your original plant dies in a few years. Hopefully, you'll have several replacement seedlings, or you can grow a replacement by rooting a cut stem; ʻalaʻala wai nui wahine stems are easy and quick to root.

    Perhaps because of its rapid growth and development, ʻalaʻala wai nui wahine kept in a container does better with regular fertilization. Either: (1) Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer every six months; (2) Foliar feed with an organic or inorganic water-soluble fertilizer every couple of months; or (3) use a super-diluted fertilizer in the water every time you water your plant. 

    Avoid pruning ʻalaʻala wai nui wahine except to remove old inflorescences or dead stems and leaves, but be careful not to damage the plant's tuberous base. If you prefer foliage over flowers, you can carefully remove the inflorescences before they fully develop (i.e., before flowering) since this seems to prevent (delay?) stem dieback after fruiting. 

Pests and Diseases

    Coleus australis is occasionally attacked by mealybugs (sometimes going after its roots), scale insects, and spider mites. Refer to the Pests & Diseases page for methods to control/eliminate these pests. If watered too frequently, the plant's base or roots can become infected and rot.

Special Features and Information

General

    The Mint family (Lamiaceae) is a large family with approximately 7,000 species within about 236 genera with a cosmopolitan distribution. Many of the species, such as basil (Ocimum basilicum), lavender (Lavandula spp.), oregano (Origanum vulgare), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris), are well known because of their aromatic properties and culinary uses [WikipediA;Lamiaceae].      

    In addition to Coleus australis, other native Hawaiian members of Lamiaceae include: four extinct and one endangered species of Haplostachys; the indigenous pakala (Lepechinia hastata); over 30 endemic extinct and extant species of Phyllostegia; over 20 endemic extinct and extant species of Stenogyne; and the indigenous pōhinahina (Vitex rotundifolia) [Flora of the Hawaiian Islands]. Hawai‘i's native Lamiaceae are often referred to as "mintless mints" because they lack the typical minty smell or taste of Lamiaceae elsewhere. Still, there are a few native Hawaiian mints that have a sweet fragrance, just not the minty scent of their non-Hawaiian relatives.

Hawaiian Name

    Wai nui translates to "big water," while ‘ala‘ala translates to “ink sac in octopus or squid,” “scar of a scrofulous sore,” or “aerial tubers of bitter yam” [Pukui & Elbert 1986].

    An alternative interpretation of the meaning of the plant name ‘ala‘ala wai nui was shared with me (Koebele) many years ago by a Hawaiian coworker. If we assume that ‘ala‘ala is a modification or variation of the Hawaiian word ala, then the translation becomes "the path of big water." What might this big water be? How about the rain? And, where does ‘ala‘ala wai nui grow best? Well, it grows best on the side of a rock, a tree, or a cliff that faces the path of the rain. 

    Coleus australis (in the Mint family) and several unrelated native Hawaiian Peperomia species (in the Pepper family) are often seen in similar habitats (e.g., on bare rocks) and have the same abbreviated Hawaiian name, ʻalaʻala wai nui. However, Hawaiians would sometimes differentiate between the two using the qualifying terms, wahine and kāne. Wahine is the Hawaiian word for woman or female, while kāne is the Hawaiian word for man or male. Attaching wahine to the end of ʻalaʻala wai nui is most likely a reference to the vaginal shape of the flower of Coleus australis, while attaching kāne to the end of ʻalaʻala wai nui is likely a reference to the phallic appearance of the Peperomia spp. flower/fruit spike. A less common suffix, pua kī (flower of kī ), was also sometimes used to distinguish Coleus australis from Peperomia.

Etymology

    Coleus is Latin, derived from the ancient Greek word κολεός (koleós), meaning “sheath,” in reference to the way the flower's stamens are united [Wiktionary]. The former genus name, Plectranthus, is from the Greek words, plectron, meaning "spur," and anthos, meaning "flower," referring to the flower's corolla sometimes having a spur on the upper side [Wagner et al. 1990].

    The species name, australis, is Latin for "of the South" or "southern," [Gledhill 2008] likely referring to the species' native distribution being primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. The former species name, parviflorus, comes from the Latin words, parvus, meaning "small," and florus, meaning "flower," referring to the small flowers in comparison to other plants in the genus [Gledhill 2008]. Little spurflower is one of the common names for this species.