Where do koa trees grow?

Asked by: Maria Tinoco

Range: Within the Hawaiian islands, this species can be found at elevations ranging from 200 to 6,500 feet, where it often dominates mesic forests. The largest Koa populations are found on Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai at elevations of 1,000 to 2,000 meters.

Does koa only grow in Hawaii?

Koa wood is endemic to Hawaii.

The species Acacia Koa grows only in Hawaii and no place else in the world. Sure, other species of the acacia family grow in other parts of the world.

Can koa trees grow in California?

I am one of three people that I know of in Sonoma County, California (USDA zone 9, Sunset Zones 14 and 15) who are successfully growing dozens of Acacia Koa trees outdoors year round in the ground! Our lowest lows are between 18 and 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can koa trees grow in Washington state?

Growing a koa tree should only be attempted where the conditions are right, namely those of Hawaii, its native area. These are beautiful shade trees that do best in their natural habitat but which can be grown to a shorter lifespan and smaller size in Hawaii’s residential areas.

Where does koa grow in Hawaii?

Koa is endemic to the islands of Hawaiʻi, Molokaʻi, Maui, Lānaʻi, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi, where it grows at elevations of 100–2,300 m (330–7,550 ft). It requires 850–5,000 mm (33–197 in) of annual rainfall.

How much is a koa tree worth?

A koa tree—prized for its use in hand-crafted furniture—can be worth upwards of $50,000 in today’s market. In theory, you could score $2,500 from a single tree.

How did koa trees get to Hawaii?

Koa in battle.

The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great, created canoes and weapons from a wood plentiful on the Big Island of Hawaii. This wood became synonymous with the warriors themselves, and it became known as koa.

What is so special about koa wood?

The Wood Grain Pattern Is Exceptional

Koa wood is arguably one of the most beautiful woods in the world. It is special in its own right because of its unique figuring, colors, and textures. All of which is influenced and determined by the age of the tree, its elevation and soil in which it grows.

Are koa trees rare?

Koa trees grow on the Hawaiian Islands at elevations of 2,000-7,000 feet. Needless to say, that makes koa trees pretty rare. To avoid excessive harvesting, the Hawaiian government has made strict rules about who can harvest the wood and how much can be sold in a year.

Are koa and acacia the same?

The first thing to know is that acacia wood and koa wood are very similar. In fact, acacia is in the same family as koa and sometimes when shopping for an acacia wood ukulele, you will see it called “koa acacia.” There are about 1300 different kinds of acacia wood!

How do I identify a koa tree?

You can identify Koa by examining three primary attributes; color, grain, and origin. Koa is generally reddish gold to dark brown in color. Its acute interlocking wood grain produces a highly curly or figured appearance. Its origin is always Hawaii.

How long does it take to grow a koa tree?

Koa are fast growing trees at 5 feet per year for the first five years, and can reach impressive heights in several decades in upper elevation landscapes. [16] Though koa can grow at lower elevations, some varieties may succumb to diseases after a decade of growth.

What does a koa tree seed look like?

Koa seeds look like small watermelon seeds. They are hard and have an outer layer that is impervious to water. Koa seeds can remain dormant for decades in the soil until something “wakes them up”. The method we use to “wake up” koa seeds is to nick the seeds with a nail clipper.

Is Koa wood a hardwood?

Koa wood is known for its deep rich colors and varied grain patterns. Old-growth trees contain the most figured lumber. The grain is interlocked, which often causes curly figuring. Koa is a hardwood and has high crush resistance and shock absorbance.

What is the rarest wood on earth?

Agar Wood. Agarwood is famous for the tea, oil, and perfume that it produces. It’s hefty price tag is thanks to its incredibly high demand and extreme rarity – it’s one of the rarest trees in the world.

What is the hardest wood in the world?

Australian Buloke

1. Australian Buloke – 5,060 IBF. An ironwood tree that is native to Australia, this wood comes from a species of tree occurring across most of Eastern and Southern Australia. Known as the hardest wood in the world, this particular type has a Janka hardness of 5,060 lbf.

Can you cut down koa trees?

Koa is far from endangered, but DOFAW controls any cutting on state land, which is limited to careful pruning and thinning of fallen, dead or dying trees, Smith says. “You need a permit to cut koa, and it needs to be done in a manner prescribed by DOFAW so it protects the forests.

What is the strongest wood in Hawaii?

The average values in tables 1 and 2 indicate that ohia is the densest, and generally the strongest, of any of the Hawaiian species examined.

How do you grow a koa tree?

The seeds should be planted in soil-less potting mix at a depth of about twice the diameter of the seed. Acacia koa seeds generally take 11 to 24 days to germinate; however, Lilleeng-Rosenberger reports some scarified seeds germinating in as few as 7 days.