Drought-tough Sleepy Morning plant confirmed growing on Kauai campus
iNaturalist: jeremypmccann
Native Plants
If you're trying to fill a sunny, dry corner of your yard with something tough and pollinator-friendly, this scrappy little shrub with yellow flowers is worth a look, and sightings like this one help map where it's actually thriving.
Someone spotted a plant called Sleepy Morning growing at Kauai High School and logged it on iNaturalist, where other experts checked the photos and confirmed the ID. It's a hardy little shrub with small yellow flowers that handles heat and dry soil well, and it's found across many tropical and subtropical regions, including Hawaii. Every confirmed sighting like this helps build a clearer picture of where the plant grows and how common it is.
Key Findings
Observation reached 'research-grade' status on iNaturalist, meaning the species ID was confirmed by community consensus.
Location documented: Kauai High School campus, Lihue, Hawaii (zip 96766).
Waltheria indica (Sleepy Morning) is a pantropical species known for drought tolerance and use in traditional medicine.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A citizen scientist confirmed a Sleepy Morning plant growing on the Kauai High School campus in Lihue, Hawaii, adding a verified data point for this low-growing, drought-tolerant shrub in a Pacific island setting.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Sleepy Morning (Waltheria indica) observed in Kauai High School, Lihue, HI 96766, USA
Research-grade observation of Sleepy Morning in Kauai High School, Lihue, HI 96766, USA.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Waltheria indica is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae, that has a pantropical distribution. It is believed to have originated in the Neotropics. Common names include sleepy morning, basora prieta, hierba de soldado, guimauve, mauve-gris, moto-branco, fulutafu, kafaki, a...