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When we grow Hawaiian native plants and heritage crops, we grow aloha for ʻāina. Adopt one of these cherished plants every third Saturday at our free Grow Aloha plant giveaways at NTBG and partner locations, including the Molokaʻi Land Trust!
Grow Aloha plant adoptions are free and open to Hawai’i residents (one per family). Please note that plants are subject to availability and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Allerton Garden & McBryde Garden
South Shore Visitor Center
4425 Lawai Rd, Koloa, HI 96756
Kahanu Garden & Preserve
650 Ulaino Rd, Hana, HI 96713
Limahuli Garden & Preserve
5-8291 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, Kauai, HI 96714
Molokaʻi Land Trust
1800 Farrington Ave, Ho’olehua, HI 96729
By bringing these plants into your gardens and growing spaces, you support Hawaiʻi’s precious biodiversity, breathe life into our island ecosystems, and nurture your relationship with ʻāina. No matter where you live, enjoy our free “how-to” videos that share growing tips for each plant and audio stories that explore the biocultural connections each plant sustains.
Artwork by Carly Lake
Wiliwili hold a special place in Hawaiʻi’s lowland dry forests and surrounding communities. Beloved for their striking flowers and vibrant seeds, wiliwili have a distinct and enduring presence—their rich, storied bark and sinuous branches evoking a sense of history and connection to the past. Adopt a wiliwili and ensure their legacy lives on for future generations. Learn more about wiliwili »
ʻŌhiʻa are deeply rooted in Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems and culture. Known for their blossoms which can range from red, orange, to even yellow, these trees support various life forms including nectar-eating honeycreepers and epiphytic plants. The cultural significance of ʻōhiʻa is second to none, with many moʻolelo (stories), mele (songs), and oli (chants) celebrating ʻōhiʻa and all it represents. Adopt an ʻōhiʻa and help ensure a future for this irreplaceable tree and all it sustains. Learn more about ʻōhiʻa »
Beloved for its beautiful fruit capsules, ʻaʻaliʻi is often referred to as ʻaʻaliʻi kū makani (wind-resisting ʻaʻaliʻi) in reference to its ability to withstand strong winds. The ʻōlelo noʻeau (proverbial saying) “He ʻaʻaliʻi kū makani mai au; ʻaʻohe makani nāna e kulaʻi,” translates to, “I am a wind-resisting ʻaʻaliʻi; no gust can push me over,” and is used to describe a resilient person who can hold their own even in the face of difficulties. Indigenous to Hawaiʻi, ʻaʻaliʻi can be found in a wide range of habitats from dry coastal lowlands to wet forests. Adopt an ʻaʻaliʻi and nurture a connection with this warrior plant that inspires resilience in us all. Learn more about ʻaʻaliʻi »
Hawaiʻi is home to around six native hibiscus species each with their own unique beauty and story. Flowers range in color from white, yellow, red, orange, and even light purple. Leaves also vary in shape, size, texture, and color. Among Hawaiʻi’s native hibiscuses is maʻo hau hele, also known as the state flower of Hawaiʻi. This beautiful hibiscus has large yellow flowers and fuzzy leaves with toothed edges. Two other native hibiscuses, both known as kokiʻo keʻokeʻo, are known for their fragrant white flowers. Adopt a native hibiscus and learn more about the incredible diversity of these beautiful trees.
Loulu, Hawaiʻi’s only native palm, have a breathtaking presence. To see an older loulu in its natural habitat provides a glimpse into Hawaiʻi’s past when these incredible palms were more abundant and widespread. There are more than 20 species of Hawaiian loulu, each varying in size as well as in the appearance of their leaves, flowering stems, and fruit. Adopt a loulu and help ensure that the dwindling number of trees we see today won’t be the last of their kind.
Breadfruit, known as ʻulu in Hawaiʻi, has been a traditional staple crop of the indigenous cultures of Oceania for thousands of years to this day. Fast growing and prolific, breadfruit produces a tasty, nutrient-rich fruit so versatile that it can be prepared hundreds of ways. There are a multitude of varieties of breadfruit found throughout the Pacific. Breadfruit is an important component in traditional agroforestry systems—a method of farming that integrates trees, shrubs, and other plants with crops and/or animals in ways that provide economic, environmental, and social benefits. Adopt a breadfruit tree and help ensure this important tree will continue to sustain future generations of plants and people. Learn more about breadfruit »
This project was made possible by the support of the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, the Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee, and the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and State and Private Forestry, branch of the U.S. Forest Service, Region 5 of the Urban & Community Forestry Program.
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