Hawaii Gardening: Drought Resistant Shrubs That Are Easy to Care For

There is nothing more beautiful than the ocean and the scenery of Hawaii. In my opinion, the floral life in Hawaii is some of the most beautiful in the world. If you don't have a lot of time to water your shrubs at least twice a day in the hot tropical temperatures here are some suggestions that will survive through drought like conditions.

A beautiful flowering shrub to try is the Lavender star. As the name suggests, the flower is in the shape of a star and generally is purple but can also be a shade of pink. It can grow up to ten feet tall and needs plenty of sunlight. It is a very tough plant and can pretty much survive anywhere it is planted. This shrub blooms year round and will bring beauty to your yard as it does. Birds and butterflies are very attracted to the flowers.

The second one I suggest is the desert honeysuckle. This one can grow up to six feet. The flowers are a great orange color and are tubular in shape. Hummingbirds love them and are essential in pollinating this shrub. It really only needs a good watering twice a month to survive. Full sun is the best for growth but will do well in slight shade as well.

A beautiful hibiscus to try is the mao hau hele. It is a bright yellow flower that also doubles as the state flower. These will be tough to find as they are endangered but if find one you'll be doing your part to keep the state flower alive. Another good choice for a hibiscus is the kokio keokeo. These flowers are white with a long red stamen sprouting out of the middle. This one is unique in that it produces a sweet scent and most hibiscus plants do not.

Another good one to try is the dwarf pomegranate. The flowers are a yellow or orange color and are long and tubular. The trunk is very unique in the twisting shape it grows in. This shrub cannot withstand a freezing. If planting in a pot, it needs a deep one but does best in the ground. This shrub does make the fruit pomegranate and it is edible.

The last one I suggest is the Japanese garden juniper. This one is often used a bonsai tree but grows great as a small shrub. It will spread so be prepared to plant in an area that will give it plenty of room to do so. It is very tough and can take both heat and cold weather. It's leaves are a great blue-green color.