Scientific Name: Vigna mariana
Also Known As: Beach Pea
Indigenous: All HI except Lana’i and Kaho’olawe
Description: An herbaceous plant that becomes woody towards the base; it can either crawl along the ground or grow up a fence or trellis. One leaf is composed of three oval leaflets about three inches in length each attached to very long running stems. They have pea type flowers which are bright yellow, about an inch wide and are arranged in clusters of 1-6 flowers. Once pollinated, pods develop with 2-10 small, reddish-brown seeds that are about a 1/4 inch long.
Distribution: This indigenous plant is found throughout the tropics, in Hawaii, it is found on O’ahu, Kaua’i, Maui, Molokai and the Big Island. Its natural habitat is sandy coasts where it is often crawling through other natives such as naupaka kahakai (Scaevola sericea), pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia), ‘aki’aki grass (Sporabolus virginicus) and pohuehue (Ipomea pes-caprae); sometimes it occurs on sea cliffs and dry slopes.
Landscape Use and Care: If you need a fast growing ground cover, nanea’s for you! But be careful of what you wish for because it really does grow quickly. Plant one every 2 ft. to get a nice full cover, it even does great on slopes to control erosion and the flowers add great color when in bloom which is pretty much continuous. Every other day watering is ok but you should reduce the watering schedule once established, the plant will be hardier and tougher. Nanea prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade, watch out for spider mites will discolor and eventually defoliate the plant. They should be treated with a pesticide specifically for mites.
Cultural Uses: The flowers of nanea are beautiful enough and seem strong enough for use in lei, as well as the seeds.
Additional Info: This plant goes by several different Hawaiian names depending on what island or region thereof. Other names include: nenea, mohihihi, puhili, puhilihili, pulihilihi, wahine ‘oma’o and my favorites: lemuomakili and ‘okolemakili which means cracked buttocks.
Nanea