HAWAI'I GARDENS
Choose herbs carefully for growing in Hawai'i

By Heidi Bornhorst

Q. I have green onions, but something is killing them. It looks like a cocooned insect that slides up and down the leaves.

What is that? I can't find information on how to maintain herbs.

Most research articles tell you how to plant and what to use them for, but no one tells you how to clip or care for them. I think my oregano is out of control. My cilantro seems to have evolved into a different plant with different-shaped leaves.

A. It's hard to tell what insect this is by your description, but my usual rule is "smash da buggah!"

As our fabulous entomology professor, the late Dr. Wally Mitchell at UH-Manoa, taught us, "For mechanical control of pest insects: Grab insect firmly between thumb and forefinger, and smash firmly (or flush for the squeamish water-waster)." Squish and remove the insect, wash it (or them) away with water, or soapy water.

Leaf miners, tiny caterpillars which live and feed in very thin burrows inside the leaf, are a pest of green onions.

If it looks like skinny lines on the leaves, these could be leaf miners.

Not all herbs are easy to grow in Hawai'i. The greener ones such as basil, parsley and green onions grow fairly well.

The silvery ones are from a Mediterranean climate and are harder for us to grow here, especially at lower elevations. Lavender, for example, is this kind of silvery herb and thrives on dry air, not humid like ours, and cool winters, not rainy like ours.

Also, clip and use your herbs, especially basil. Clip off and use any flowering parts, and this will lengthen the life of your basil. Oregano can easily get out of control. I hope you have lots of recipes for it. Again, clip and use this vigorous herb.

Native plant classes

For those interested in learning about native plants, and how to grow and perpetuate them, check out the plant workshops at Leeward Community College.

Workshops include a tour of native plant gardens and working inside the shade house propagation center on campus. For all workshops, be prepared for walking outdoors in the sun.

Native Plant Maintenance: Room MS 108, 1 to 4 p.m., Feb. 22. Learn about where to plant native dryland plants, soil preparation, drip irrigation, mulching, and pruning and pest control. Dress for gardening activity.

Uses and Propagation of Hawaiian Medicinal Plants: Room MS 108, 1-4 p.m., March 21. Native plants such as hapu'u, koa, ko'oko'olau and 'ilima had applications in Hawaiian culture, as well as the Polynesian Introductions such as shampoo ginger, olena and ko.

In recent times, "weeds" have become widely used by healers as well.

You will receive seeds and cuttings, and learn about their propagation. This workshop provides information about their uses but does not endorse any particular treatment.

Only state certified Hawaiian healers have the expertise for safe application of medicinal plants.

For workshop information, contact Priscilla S. Millen, botany professor at Leeward Community College, 455-0285.

In bloom on Lana'i

We took a trip to Lana'i during the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.

Thanks to all the rains soaking our Islands since early November, the whole island was green and flourishing with what had appeared to be dead sticks sprouting new buds.

One pleasing color combination that could be replicated in a garden was red pineapple sage with blue Jamaica vervain and yellow flowered Japanese tea or habu cha.

They are all weeds, but are so pretty. These weeds are less invasive than Christmas berry, lantana, strawberry guava or miconia.

All three plants have herbal and medicinal uses, besides being tough and attractive in the garden.

The sage, or Salvia coccinea, is one of many kinds of sage, and has bright red flowers that are used in garnishes and plate décor. They taste 'ono and are full of beta carotene.

The Jamaica vervain, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, is in the verbena family and can be made into tea. Some say this is good for high blood pressure.

I think it tastes good and is better for you than soda. Jamaicans make tea from it and use it to adulterate and extend ordinary tea. The Lana'i sage flowers are a deeper blue with darker tones than on the other islands.

Heidi Bornhorst is a sustainable-landscape consultant. Submit questions at islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com or Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Letters may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.