Pandanus tectorius

Common Names

Hala, Screw Pine, Screwpine, Pandanus, Pandan, Pu Hala, Lauhala, Thatch Screw Pine

Summary

Screw pine is native to Hawaiʻi and widespread across the Pacific, growing as a stout, often multi-branched tree or tall shrub with a spreading canopy and prominent prop roots; leaves are long (1–3 m) with spiny margins and spiral arrangement at branch tips, forming rosettes, and the plant is dioecious with fragrant male inflorescences and pineapple‑like female inflorescences that bear large segmented fruits containing 40–80 drupes and edible pulp in yellow to orange to red hues, all set off by spirally arranged, stiff bluish‑green leaves and aerial roots.

In cultivation, it grows in full sun along coastal locations with well‑drained soils and tolerates salt spray, wind, and drought; propagation occurs by seed or cuttings, and main uses include coastal protection, windbreaks, and home gardens; leaves are used for weaving and thatching, aerial roots for cordage, and male flowers for perfumery, with edible fruits and common landscape roles as a specimen, screen, shade, container, or accent plant, and hardiness in USDA zones 10–12.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

13–46 ft

Spread

15-35 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 10a-12b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates 30–50% shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6–10 (slightly acidic to basic)

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

No fixed season; varies by location; blooms year-round or sporadically

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

2–80 cm per year

Seasons of Interest

No fixed season; flowering/fruiting varies by locale (Fiji Mar–May; Northern Australia Apr–Aug; Micronesia Dec–Mar and Jul–Sep).

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Root suckers

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees