Kava Kava (Piper Methysticum) is an upright, dioecious, evergreen shrub that grows to 10-15' tall with heart-shaped glossy dark green leaves. It grows on a number of South Pacific islands (Micronesia, Fiji, Hawaii, New Guinea, the Samoas, Tonga and Vanuatu), but the specific place of origin is unknown. Male plants produce short cylindrical spikes of small creamy white flowers, but female plants rarely flower.