Psydrax odorata

Common Names

Alaheʻe, ʻŌheʻe, Walaheʻe, Shiny-leaved Canthium

Summary

An evergreen Rubiaceae shrub or small tree native to Hawai'i, Micronesia, and parts of the South Pacific, it typically grows 6–30 ft tall and 3–7 ft wide with glossy elliptic leaves and clusters of small white fragrant flowers; fruits are dark purple to black drupes.

Common landscape uses include accent, screening, hedges, a shade tree, or container plant, with spacing of about 1–2 m for screens/hedges and about 3 m for shade plantings; it tolerates full sun to partial shade, well-drained soils, and drought. Propagation is by seed or cuttings; seed treatment involves removing pulp, soaking 24–48 h, discarding floaters, disinfecting with 1:9 bleach for 30 min, and sowing on moistened medium, with germination typically around 1 month (up to 6 months) and fresh seed germination near 50%; cuttings show limited rooting (~7–10%), air layering not well developed, and division/grafting/tissue culture have limited documentation. Pests include coffee green scale and black twig borer, and seed predation by Orneodes objurgatella is noted.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-30 feet

Spread

3-7 feet

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates some shade, partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil, tolerates lava/cinder, clay, or organic-dominant soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow growing, about 1–2 ft/year (30–60 cm/year) after about one year.

Seasons of Interest

All four seasons.

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, attracts insects