Flower profile
Pāʻū o Hiʻiaka
Jacquemontia sandwicensis
Pāʻū o Hiʻiaka (Jacquemontia sandwicensis) is a vine in the Convolvulaceae family, blooming mostly January–December across the U.S.
Pāʻū o Hiʻiaka is a wildflower. In Hawaii it's most often seen in bloom in January–December.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Hawaii
Quick look
- It belongs to the Convolvulaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- In Hawaii, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–December. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as indeterminate. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 0.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 1,171 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #36 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Hawaii, most flowering sightings come in January–December.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe
- Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. 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. HAR 13-107
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
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.
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 pāʻū o Hiʻiaka in 1 states.
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 Pāʻū o Hiʻiaka a medium shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to 50 °F.
- Shade tolerance
- Medium
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Moisture use
- Medium
- Soil textures it is adapted to
- coarse, medium, fine
- Soil pH range
- 6.0 to 7.5
- Minimum temperature tolerated
- 50 °F
- Frost-free days needed (minimum)
- 365
- Annual precipitation range
- 25 to 35 inches
- Minimum root depth
- 24 inches
- Salinity tolerance
- Medium
- Fertility requirement
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Moderate
- Active growth period
- Year Round
- Fruit or seed
- Brown · Year Round to Year Round
- Can be propagated by
- bare root, container, seed
- Commercial availability
- Routinely Available
From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for JAOVS. 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).
Other Jacquemontia on Bloomipedia (1): Hairy cluster-vine.
More from the Convolvulaceae family (12 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Field bindweed, Tievine, Wild potato vine, Texas bindweed, Carolina ponysfoot, Beach morning glory, Oceanblue morning glory, Beach morning-glory.
More Hawaii flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile JAOVS.
- iNaturalist, Jacquemontia sandwicensis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- 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.
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Ken Clark via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.