Cyanea calycina

Common Names

O'ahu Cyanea, Hahai, Haha

Summary

Native to Oʻahu, Hawaii, the plant is a woody shrub 1–3 m tall that occurs in wet, shaded habitats such as the wao akua in the Waiʻanae Range. It has large elliptic to oblanceolate leaves 15–60 cm long and 5.5–14 cm wide, with glabrous upper surfaces and pubescent undersides, and bears clusters of purple to magenta flowers with obovoid to obpyriform berries 16–20 mm long.

Propagation is by seed or cuttings, and it is grown for attractive foliage and showy flowers in ornamental gardening or as a cut flower. Cultivation favors moist, shaded conditions like its native wet forests, and conservation management is essential to protect the remaining native forests and wao akua habitats on Oʻahu.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in

Spread

3-10 feet

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Drainage

Unknown

Bloom Color

Pale to dark magenta (rarely pale green), Purple, Red, White

Bloom Time

Year-round

Foliage Color

Bright green

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds and cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Wildlife attraction unknown