Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Black-fruited coprosma
- Nenea ernodeoides
Endangered Species Status
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Sprawling Shrub
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Shrub, Dwarf, Less than 2
- Shrub, Small, 2 to 6
Mature Size, Width
Shrubs spread 10 to 15 feet. 
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
- Ground Cover
Additional Landscape Use Information
Though these plants are naturally found at high elevations (4,000-8,500 ft.), they do well at lower elevations (100 ft.) in the landscape. [Rick Barboza, Hui Kū Maoli Ola]
This example underscores the wide range of adaptations among our native Hawaiian plants.
Plant Produces Flowers
Additional Flower Color Information
Kūkaenēnē have male and female whitish-cream flowers on separate plants.
Additional Blooming Period and Fruiting Information
Very dark purple, almost black, fruit follow the late spring to early summer blooming period. Kūkaenēnē is the only dark purple fruited species of Coprosma in the Hawaiian Islands, earning it the common name of Black-fruited coprosma.
Additional Plant Texture Information
Kūkaenēnē leaves are shiny, narrow and under an inch long.
- Medium Green
Additional Pest & Disease Information
Kūkaenēnē is prone to ants, scale, mealy bugs, thrips and aphids.
Fertilize the plants with 8-8-8 every 4 to 6 months.
Additional Water Information
They can tolerate from dry to wet conditions.
Soil must be well drained
- Full sun
- Partial sun
Additional Lighting Information
Kūkaenēnē can tolerate some shade as an understory groundcover. 
- Waterlogged Soil
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- 4000 to 4999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 4000 to 4999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 4000 to 4999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
Additional Habitat Information
Kūkaenēnē occurs primarily in open sites, often on lava and cinder fields in subalpine woodlands on East Maui and Hawaiʻi Island from 4000 to about 8500 feet.
One collection was apparently made at the bog on Mount ʻEke, West Maui.
The thirteen Hawaiian endemic species of Coprosma belong to Rubiaceae or Coffee family and all appear to be common to fairly common in their habitat. Kūkaenēnē is the only black fruited species of Coprosma in the Hawaiian Islands.
The generic name is from the Greek kopros, dung, and osme, smell referring to the dung-like or rotten cabbage smell (methanethiol) given off when the leaves of some species are crushed. 
The specific epithet ernodeoides means resembling Ernodea, a genus of plants in the same family (Rubiaceae) as Coprosma ernodeoides.
The genus name Coprosma means "smelling like dung." By coincidence, the Hawaiian name kūkaenēnē literally means "nēnē dung." This refers not to the smell but to the dung-like appearance of the dark fruits, which do in fact resemble nēnē droppings (kūkae). Nevertheless, nēnē (Branta sandvicensis), or Hawaiian goose, do eat the fruits as part of their natural diet. So then, one might say that when kūkaenēnē is eaten by nēnē and they deposit their kūkae, kūkaenēnē is spread throughout the nēnē habitat!
Intrestingly, another name for Coprosma ernodeoides is ʻaiakanēnē, literally meaning "food of the nēnē."
Early Hawaiian Use
Early Hawaiians made a yellow dye from the inner bark and the fruits were used to make a dark purple or black dye. 
The leaves flowers and black fruits were also strung on lei. [4,6]
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprosma [accessed August 2, 2008]
 "Plants in Hawaiian Culture" by Beatrice H. Krauss, page 65.
 "Hawaiʻi the Fires of Life--Rebirth in Volcano Land" by Garrett A. Smathers and Dieter Mueller-Dombois, page 96.
 "Nā Lei Makamae--The Treasured Lei" by Marie A. McDonald & Paul R. Weissich, pages 8, 64.
 Haleakalā National Park http://www.nps.gov/hale/index.htm [Accessed on 7/16/13]
 "Ethnobotany of Hawaii" by Beatrice H. Krauss, page 147.
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Other Nursery Profiles for Coprosma ernodeoides