Beach naupaka
Scaevola taccada
Half-moon flowers and salt spray tolerance for seaside yards.
Hardiness: zones 10 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 6 ft tall, 8 ft wide
From: Pacific and Indian Ocean coasts
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: pollinators, wildlife.
Native to: Hawaiʻi & Pacific Islands. Hardy in zones 10 to 12.
The story
Naupaka flowers look as if they have been torn in half. In Hawaiian story two lovers were parted, one sent to the mountains and one to the sea, and the mountain naupaka and the beach naupaka each carry half a flower until they are reunited.
Planting
Full sun and sandy soil. It takes salt spray, wind and drought right on the shore.
Growing
Water to establish. Clip to shape if you want a hedge.
Harvest and use
A coastal windbreak that holds sand in place. The white berries float, which is how it reached every tropical Pacific shore.
What to watch for
In Florida and the Caribbean it spreads on beaches, so plant it only in the Pacific, where it is native.
See if Beach naupaka fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home