Vegetation zones on Kilauea volcano are the result of numerous factors such as
rainfall, lava flow age and type, altitude, and the presence of acid rainfall.
Vegetation cover |
Typical plants |
Altitude (ft) |
Xerophytic shrub |
Algaroba, koahaole, swollen fingergrass, feather fingergrass, piligrass, bristly foxtail. |
0-1000 |
Xerophytic shrub |
Lantana, koahaole, klu, cactus, uhaloa, ilima, falsemallow, natal redtop, piligrass, native panicums, kakonakona. |
0-3000 |
Mixed open forest |
Koahaole, guava, lantana, spanish clover, Bermudagrass, kukaipuaa, pilipiliula. |
0-2500 |
Mixed open forest |
Bermudagrass, spanish clover, wild geranium, bristly-fruited mallow, plantain, rattail. |
2500-4000 |
Shrub and closed forest |
Guava, sensitive plant, Boston fern, Hilograss, ricegrass, basketgrass, honohono, staghorn fern. |
0-1500 |
Closed forest |
Ohia, lehua, tree fern, staghorn fern. |
1500-4000 |
Open forest |
Koa, pukamole, sheepgrass, mountain pili, rattail, alapaio fern, tree fern. |
4000-7000 |
Open forest and shrub |
Koa, mamani, heu pueo, mountain pili, large Hawaiian lovegrass, kalamaloa, sweet vernalgrass, bracken fern, alapaio fern, Kentucky bluegrass. |
4000-7000 |