COMMON NAME
Koa
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Acacia koa
Plant family
Pea (Fabaceae)
Plant group
Broadleaf Evergreens
The largest of native Hawaiian trees, koa is a fast growing legume that typically reaches 49-82' in height. and 20-39' in width.
82 reports
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OBSERVERS
82+
OBSERVATIONS
Identification hints
The combination of the long phyllodes with twice-compound leaves makes this tree distinctive.
Did you know?
Acacia koa is a very important tree for Hawaiians. Historically, these trees were used for creating canoes and the wood is used for timber, furniture and other uses. It is one of the most expensive woods in the world. The tree is often found in pastures and agricultural lands but is not as abundant as it once was.
DISTRIBUTION IN TH U.S.
Hawaii
HABITAT
Growing at elevations between 330-7550' above sea level. Common in mesic and wet forests. Koa can grow in very young volcanic soils.
ATTRIBUTES
Leaves
Young Acacia koa trees have twice compound leaves with 12-24 oval-shaped leaflets. Mature trees have 3-10" long and 1/2" wide sickle-shaped, flattened leaf stalks. These phyllodes look like leaves, but are not true leaves.
Flowers
Small yellow flowers grow in spherical 1/3" wide clusters borne in the axils of the leaves (where the leaves meet the branch).
Fruits
Fruit is a legume, a pod 3-6" long typically containing about 12 seeds. Seeds are 1/2" wide, dark brown, flat and oval shaped.
Bark
Bark is mottled reddish and gray.
Bloom Time
In some areas, koa may flower throughout the year.
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