Kupukupu

General Information

 

​Indigenous Hawaii plant popular for haku leis.  Kupukupu is hardy and can tolerate most soil conditions, but it grows best in a moist, well drained soil or medium. The fern grows well in full sun and partial shade.  Indoors, it can be kept on partially lit windowsills with fluorescent or incandescent lighting.  Plant is self-propagating through root nodules.  

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Kupupukupu (Nephrolepis spp.) are members of Lomariopsidaceae. There are several common naturalized swordferns and will hybridize with the native species.

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Etymology

 

The generic name Nephrolepis is derived from the Greek nephros, kidney, and lepis, scale, in reference to the kidney-shaped indusia (sori covering).

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Background Information

 

This is the only Nephrolepis species, or swordfern, in Hawaiʻi that produce underground tubers on the stolons.

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Hawaiian Use

 

The fronds are fashioned as into lei for the wrists and ankles called kūpeʻe or as haku for the head.​

 

Modern Use

 

Kupukupu is used today in lei as it was with early Hawaiians.