Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_dodonaea_viscosa
Hopbush
Dodonaea viscosa
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About Hopbush
Hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa) is indigenous in the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Much-branched shrub or small tree 2–8 m tall with reddish-brown to gray or blackish-gray bark and often sticky young stems.
Kauaʻi evidence
Taxonomy, nativity, island-level occurrence, growth form, names, and source conservation assessments are documented in the 2026 census audit. Broader ecology and conservation recommendations still require claim-level source review. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Dodonaea viscosa
- Common names
- Hopbush · Hopseed Bush · Varnish-leaf · aalii
- Hawaiian names
- ʻaʻaliʻi
- Other names
- Hopbush · Dodonaea viscosa · Dodonaea arborescens var. spatulata · Dodonaea eriocarpa · Dodonaea eriocarpa f. acuminatula · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. amphioxea · Dodonaea eriocarpa f. bifurculata · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. confertior · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. costulata · Dodonaea eriocarpa f. decipiens · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. degeneri · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. forbesii · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. glabrescens · Dodonaea eriocarpa f. heterocarpa · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. hillebrandii · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. hosakana · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. lanaiensis · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. molokaiensis · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. oblonga · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. obtusior · Dodonaea eriocarpa f. oxyphylla · Dodonaea eriocarpa f. pallida · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. pallida · Dodonaea eriocarpa f. salicifolia · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. sherffii · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. skottsbergii · Dodonaea eriocarpa f. straminea · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. varians · Dodonaea eriocarpa var. waimeana · Dodonaea sandwicensis · Dodonaea sandwicensis var. latifolia · Dodonaea sandwicensis var. simulans · Dodonaea spatulata · Dodonaea stenoptera · Dodonaea stenoptera var. fauriei · Dodonaea viscosa var. arborescens · Dodonaea viscosa var. marquesensis · Dodonaea viscosa var. spathulata · Dodonaea viscosa f. spatulata · Hopseed Bush · Varnish-leaf · ʻaʻaliʻi · ʻaʻaliʻi ku ma kua · ʻaʻaliʻi ku makani · kumakani
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Indigenous
- Conservation status
- Smithsonian checklist assessment: Apparently Secure; U.S. source status: No Status
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-05
- Evidence limits
- Island-level occurrence is retained; finer locality is intentionally withheld. Growth-form tags describe the taxon across its range, not a measured Kauaʻi population. Checklist source statuses are not a new legal-status determination.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Dry shrubland · Mesic slopes · Lava · Disturbed native sites
- Food and resource needs
- Light, water, nutrients, and suitable soil or substrate
- Reproduction
- Viable propagules and suitable establishment conditions
- Shelter
- Suitable soil, substrate, and vegetation structure
- Growth form
- Tree; Shrub
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Fire, invasive grasses, overbrowsing
- Conservation actions
- Dryland restoration, seed collection, firebreak planning
- Monitoring
- Dryland restoration, seed collection, firebreak planning
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- Hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa) is indigenous in the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Much-branched shrub or small tree 2–8 m tall with reddish-brown to gray or blackish-gray bark and often sticky young stems.
