White Colour Gardenia Brighamii Flower

Gardenia brighamii: A Hawaiian Treasure at Risk
Gardenia brighamii, commonly known as Nā‘ū, is a rare and culturally significant flowering shrub or small tree endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It belongs to the Rubiaceae family, the same botanical family as coffee and other gardenias. Though once widespread throughout the dry forests of Hawai‘i, it is now critically endangered, both in the wild and in cultivation. This plant embodies the fragility and beauty of Hawaii’s unique ecosystems and serves as a vital emblem of native biodiversity and traditional Hawaiian knowledge.
Botanical Description
Gardenia brighamii typically grows as a small tree or large shrub, reaching heights of 2 to 5 meters. It features:
Leaves: Opposite, glossy, dark green, and elliptical to obovate with smooth margins, they range from 3 to 6 inches long. The foliage is evergreen and forms a dense canopy.
Flowers: The most striking feature of Nā‘ū is its creamy white, highly fragrant flowers. Each blossom consists of 6–9 narrow, pinwheel-like petals. These tubular flowers emit a strong, sweet scent especially in the evening, attracting moth pollinators.
Fruit: After pollination, the plant produces green, oblong fruits that ripen to a yellowish hue. Inside, they contain seeds surrounded by a sticky pulp.
The flowers are not just beautiful; they hold deep cultural and ecological value, reflecting the plant’s adaptation to its dry forest habitat.
Habitat and Distribution
Originally, Gardenia brighamii could be found on all the major Hawaiian Islands except Kaho‘olawe and Ni‘ihau. It thrived in dry to mesic forests and shrublands at elevations from 200 to 1,500 meters. Today, however, fewer than 20 naturally occurring individuals remain in the wild, most of them on the islands of O‘ahu and Lana‘i. Habitat loss due to agriculture, invasive species, urban development, fire, and feral ungulates has driven it to the brink of extinction.