United States regional guide · HI

Permaculture in Hawaii

Hawaii’s volcanic islands contain tropical coasts, cool uplands, wet windward slopes, and dry leeward districts. Elevation, trade winds, rainfall, salt, and invasive-species risk can change suitable crops within a few miles.

USDA span

9a–13a

Census region

West

Climate starting point

USDA hardiness zones in Hawaii

Hawaii includes USDA zones 9a–13a. Hardiness zones describe typical annual extreme minimum temperatures; within-state elevation, wind, water, soil, and urban heat can change what succeeds on a particular site.

Zone 9aZone 9bZone 10aZone 10bZone 11aZone 11bZone 12aZone 12bZone 13a

Regional plant starting points

Plants to explore for a Hawaii design

These plants are useful starting points for researching a design in Hawaii. Confirm each choice against your exact zone, site conditions, local ecology, and management goals.

01Zones 8–11

Banana Plantain

Musa balbisiana

Layer: Sub-Canopy
Type: Perennial

02Zones 10–12

Pineapple

Ananas comosus

Layer: Herbaceous
Type: Perennial

03Zones 10–11

Coconut

Cocos nucifera

Layer: Canopy
Type: Evergreen Tree

04Zones 10–12

Breadfruit

Artocarpus altilis

Layer: Canopy
Type: Evergreen Tree

05Zones 10–11

Coffee Arabica

Coffea arabica

Layer: Sub-Canopy
Type: Evergreen Tree

06Zones 9–11

Macadamia

Macadamia integrifolia

Layer: Canopy
Type: Evergreen Tree

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