Flower profile

Naio

Myoporum sandwicense

Naio (Myoporum sandwicense) is a shrub or small tree in the Scrophulariaceae family, blooming mostly August–December across the U.S.

Native to Hawaii

Naio is a flowering plant. In Hawaii it's most often seen in bloom in August–December.

1states where USDA records it

1,011HI sightings*

1,011U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Hawaii

Quick look

Myoporum sandwicense, commonly known as naio, bastard sandalwood or false sandalwood is a species of flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. It is a tree or shrub highly variable in its form, the size and shape of its leaves, in the number of flowers in a group and in the shape of its fruit. It is native to the Hawaiian Islands and the island of ʻEua in Tonga.
From Wikipedia's article Myoporum sandwicense, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Hawaii. ^NatureServe
In Hawaii, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in August–December. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 15 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 1,011 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #44 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Hawaii, most flowering sightings come in August–December.

Flowering records by month in Hawaii (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (59 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G3 Vulnerable worldwide. ^NatureServe
Hawaii: Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Hawaii. ^{HAR 13-107}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Hawaii. ^NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records naio in 1 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Hawaii.

Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Naio a high shade tolerance and medium drought tolerance. It is rated for soil pH 6.1 to 7.8 and winter lows down to 40 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: Medium
Soil pH range: 6.1 to 7.8
Minimum temperature tolerated: 40 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 365
Annual precipitation range: 60 to 130 inches
Minimum root depth: 12 inches
Salinity tolerance: Medium
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Short
Fruit or seed: White
Can be propagated by: cuttings, seed

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MYSA. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 4 counties across 1 states; the most are in Hawaii (4).

More from the Scrophulariaceae family (4 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Great mullein, Moth mullein, California beeplant, Cenizo.

More Hawaii flowers

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in HI

ʻōhiʻa lehua

Metrosideros polymorpha

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: May–June

Beach naupaka

Scaevola taccada

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: May–December

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile MYSA.
iNaturalist, Myoporum sandwicense: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Myoporum sandwicense (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Myoporum sandwicense (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Clay Gibbons via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.