A LITTLE MORE LIFE
Kāwelu
Eragrostis variabilis
This Hawaiian grass adds native texture and helps cover exposed soil.

MAKE IT FEEL AT HOME
A spot to thrive.
Water while it establishes, then let the soil dry between waterings; give it full sun.
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil moisture
- Dry soil
- Mature size
- 1–2½ ft tall · 2–3 ft wide
- Season of interest
- Year-round grass texture
- Local climate
- Choose by island, elevation, and rainfall.
- Garden role
- An airy ornamental grass
ONE GOOD SWAP
Instead of maiden grass.
Miscanthus sinensis
Try kāwelu for an airy ornamental grass.
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Photo credits & licenses
Kāwelu: Forest and Kim Starr · CC BY 3.0 us
Maiden grass: Jim Janke · CC BY 4.0
Resized, converted to WebP, and cropped in the layout. Each photo retains its listed license. All photo credits
