Brighamia rockii

Common Names

Pua Ala, Molokai Ohaha, Alula, Haha

Summary

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Molokai ohaha, or pua ʻala, is an evergreen succulent shrub endemic to Molokaʻi, Hawaii, typically 3–6 ft tall with a caudiciform swollen base and a dense rosette of spoon-shaped, shiny, leathery leaves 2.5–9 inches long; it flowers in autumn with 3–8 fragrant white trumpet-shaped flowers, and produces a capsule as fruit. It grows on windward sea cliffs from sea level to about 1,500 ft (approximately 470 m); the native pollinator is presumed extinct, so hand pollination is used to produce seed. Wild populations total fewer than 200 individuals and the plant is federally endangered.

Propagation is mainly by seeds, with hand pollination required for fruit production due to pollinator loss; seeds germinate best when sown on the surface of a moist fine-textured medium with light exposure, achieving about 85% germination in 6 weeks and up to 97% final. Seeds can be refrigerated for 2–3 years, though viability declines after 10–12 months. No documented cuttings exist; ex situ conservation programs maintain thousands of seeds (over 11,000 at one seed bank and about 14,000 at another) and restoration plantings have occurred on Molokaʻi cliffs; cultivation favors well-drained soil, part sun to full sun, humidity above 40%, and regular watering and fertilization.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-15 feet

Spread

1-2 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9b-10a

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun to full sun and partial shade to light shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, fine-textured soil (cactus/succulent mix or other well-draining potting mix).

Soil Drainage

Very well-drained to well-drained soil that stays moist yet does not waterlog, with a fine-textured medium that drains well (e.g., fine perlite or peat/perlite mix), and a bottom layer of clay balls or pebbles to promote drainage.

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Fall

Foliage Color

Bright to dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Seasons of Interest

Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts hawk moths and giant sphinx moths