COMMON NAME
'Akia
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Wikstroemia uva-ursi
ALSO KNOWN AS
Hillside false ohelo
Plant family
Mezereum (Thymelaeaceae)
Plant group
Broadleaf Evergreens
A sprawling shrub that typically grows 1-3' tall and can spread up to 10' wide.
49 reports
10+
OBSERVERS
49+
OBSERVATIONS
Identification hints
The branches can be a range of colors, from gray to yellow to reddish brown. The leaves occur in pairs of two, overlapping on the branch, and are dark green on top and light green below. Fruits are bright red to crimson oval berries, only a quarter to half-inch in size.
Did you know?
'Akia is endemic (only found natively) to Hawaii. It is a popular landscape plant and prefers to grow in areas of full sun. The name 'Akia means "to ferment; very sour." The flowers produce a musky smell and the fruits have been used in leis. Bark from this shrub has been used for fiber material for ropes. Many parts of the shrub (leaves, bark, roots, and stems) have been used to create a poison for stupefying fish.
DISTRIBUTION IN TH U.S.
Hawaii
HABITAT
Growing on dry ridges, hillsides, headlands, clay flats, 'a'a lava flows, and in coastal habitats.
ATTRIBUTES
Leaves
Dark or grayish green leaves are opposite, oval-shaped, less than 1" long. Leaves are thick and inflexible, with a very short leaf stalk.
Flowers
Individual shrubs have either male flowers or female flowers, but not both. Yellow tubular flowers with 4 petals are less than 1/2" long, found in clusters at the ends of branches.
Fruits
Fruit is a bright red oval shaped fleshy fruit is less than 1/2" long and in diameter.
Bloom Time
Blooming throughout the year
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