Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

Cyanea hardyi (Haha in Hawaiian) is an endangered branched shrub or tree 1 to 7 meters (3-23 ft) tall. Cyanea hardyi leaves are elliptic to oblanceolate in shape, with blades that are about 18 to 28 cm (7-11 in) long, and 2.5-5 cm (1-2 in) wide. It's inflorescence are 15-30 flowered, and pendent. The berries of Cyanea hardyi are purple, globose, and 8-10 mm long.

• Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.


• Wagner, W.L., Herbst, D.R., & Lorence, D.H. (2005-). Flora of the Hawaiian Islands website. http://botany.si.edu/pacificislandbiodiversity/hawaiianflora/index.htm

This database entry has been complied by Matthew Kahokuloa, Jr.

In-situ and ex-situ cultivation and propagule storage of Cyanea hardyi is ongoing. Cyanea hardyi exists also in NTBG’s Conservation and Horticulture Centre nursery, and individuals are outplanted in the NTBG Limahuli Garden and preserve. In addition, nearly 20,000 seeds are stored in NTBG’s Seed Bank and Laboratory.

Cyanea hardyi is endemic to Kaua'i island, occurring between 219 - 1,000 meters elevation in mesic valleys and diverse mesic forest.

• Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Clermontia and four other Hawaiian lobeliad genera (Delissea Gaud., Cyanea Gaud., Lobelia L. and Trematolobelia A. Zahlbr.) are believed to have evolved flowers adapted for pollination by nectarivorous Hawaiian Drepanidae (Hawaiian honeycreepers) and Hawaiian Mohoidae (previously known as Hawaiian honeyeaters.)

• Lammers, Thomas G., Freeman, Edward C. 1986. Ornithophily among the Hawaiian Lobelioideae (Campanulaceae): Evidence from Floral Nectar Sugar Compositions. https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1986.tb10913.x

IUCN Status: Endangered (E): Cyanea hardyi is endemic to the island of Kaua’i. Approximately 600 individuals occur among 10 subpopulations within three locations. The taxon has experienced severe and ongoing decline in habitat and numbers due to the impacts of invasive plants and animals.

Federal Listing Status: No Status: The taxon is not on the U.S. Endangered Species List, nor the State of Hawai'i Endangered Species List. It should be proposed for listing/protection by the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Major threats to this taxon include direct competition by invasive non-native plant species. Pigs, goats, deer and rats also predate the species and degrade habitat.

• Walsh, S., Nyberg, B. & Wood, K. 2020. Cyanea hardyi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T33581A83791283. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T33581A83791283.en

We currently have 21 herbarium specimens for Cyanea hardyi in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

• 036564 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1968
• 004429 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1971
• 004431 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1986
• 004430 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1989
• 008011 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1989
• 008682 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1990
• 009973 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1990
• 040072 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
• 012753 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1992
• 013718 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1992
• 016041 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1993
• 021674 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1996
• 050248 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1998
• 045664 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1998
• 028448 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1999
• 033427 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2000
• 032464 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2000
• 051881 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2010
• 067938 - collected by Jesse Adams in 2013
• 082484 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2015
• Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2015