Category Archives: Flowers

Three views of a Milo flower

A view of a milo flower in Hawaii
A view of a milo flower in Hawaii
A view of a milo flower in Hawaii

I saw this Milo (Thespesia populnea) flower during a walk on the South Kohala coast and liked the different views it afforded. Milo is a canoe plant, brought to Hawaii by Polynesian settlers. It’s similar to another canoe plant, Hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus), but Milo is more of a tree and has different shaped leaves, pointed as opposed to heart-shaped.

Beach Vitex

A Vitex rotundifolia plant and flowers
Vitex rotundifolia flowers

Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) is a shrub native to Hawaii along with much of the rest of the Pacific. In Hawaii, it’s known as Pohinahina amongst other names. It’s very tolerant of salt, heat and wind, and thrives in coastal areas.

Ti flowers

Ti flowers in Hawaii
Ti flowers in Hawaii

Ti plants (Cordyline fruticosa) are known for their leaves, which sprout profusely and die off from the bottom as the plant grows. But the plant also has lovely flowers, which appear on the end of a stalk, as a mass of tiny white or pink blooms.