Brighamia insignis

Aplant that no longer exists in the wild.Brighamia insignis, known as the Hawaiian Palm or Alula, was declared extinct in its native habitat on the sea cliffs of Kaua’i, Hawai’i, with the last wild individual disappearing around 2020.

Every plant in cultivation today exists because of conservation propagation efforts. Its form is unmistakable: a thick, succulent trunk that bulges at the base and tapers toward the top, crowned with a compact rosette of glossy, fleshy leaves. It looks like nothing else on a houseplant shelf, and growing one is a small act of keeping a species alive.

Origins
Endemic to the islands of Kaua’i and Ni’ihau in Hawai’i,Brighamia insignisgrew on exposed sea cliffs and rocky ledges at elevations up to 480 metres. Despite its common name, it is not a palm but a member of the bellflower family, Campanulaceae. Habitat loss and the decline of its natural pollinator drove it to extinction in the wild.

Soil and Substrate
Brighamia insignisis a succulent that needs sharp drainage and dislikes wet roots. OurDesert Mixis a peat-free cacti and succulent substrate that provides the fast drainage this species requires, replicating the thin, mineral soils of its cliff-face habitat.