Spices
and
Edible Plants
Achiote / Annato (Bixa orellana)
Achiote, also called the lipstick plant, produces fruit that contain seeds which are used as a natural food coloring agent called Annato. Our plant is the variety that produces large bright red fruit, which are excellent for using in flower arrangements during the holiday season. It can be planted as a hedge. Prune as needed.
Allspice (Pimenta dioica)
The Allspice plant produces dried berries that combine flavors reminiscent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Its berries are widely used as a spice in cooking, especially in holiday dishes, as well as in pickling and baking. Beyond culinary uses, allspice also appears in traditional medicine and aromatherapy for its warming and soothing properties.
Ceylon Cinnamon
(Cinnamomum verum)
Ceylon cinnamon, often called "true cinnamon," is native to Sri Lanka and is prized for its delicate, mildly sweet flavor compared to the stronger cassia varieties. It is widely used in baking, desserts, teas, and savory dishes, as well as in traditional Ayurvedic remedies for digestion and circulation. Its thin, papery quills and lower coumarin content make it a safer and more refined choice for both culinary and medicinal purposes.
Edible Pandan
(Pandanus amaryllifolius)
Edible pandan, a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia, is well known for its fragrant, vanilla-like leaves used in both sweet and savory cooking. The leaves are often added to rice, curries, or coconut milk desserts, imparting a distinctive aroma and flavor, and can also be made into a tea or used as a wrap for steaming. Pandan leaves contain alkaloid compounds that can provide a calming effect on the body. Edible pandan grows best in partial shade with consistent moisture.
Vanilla Orchid (Vanilla planifola)
The vanilla orchid, native to Mexico and now cultivated in tropical regions worldwide, produces the pods that yield natural vanilla flavoring. Here in Hawaii, the vanilla flower requires careful hand-pollination. Widely used in desserts, beverages, perfumes, and aromatherapy, vanilla is one of the most popular and valuable flavoring agents in the world.
Moringa (Moringa oleifera)
Moringa, often called the "drumstick tree" or "miracle tree," is native to South Asia but cultivated across the tropics for its highly nutritious leaves, pods, and seeds. Its leaves are rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein, making them a staple in traditional diets and a popular superfood supplement. Beyond nutrition, moringa is valued in traditional medicine, water purification (through its seed powder), and even as livestock feed due to its versatility and resilience. Needs good drainage and prefers full sun. Once a year, prune it to a height of 3 to 5 feet to encourage multiple new growths.
Ube (Dioscorea alata)
Ube, also known as purple yam, is a tuber native to Southeast Asia and widely used in Filipino cuisine. Its vibrant purple flesh has a mildly sweet, nutty flavor that makes it popular in desserts such as cakes, ice cream, and pastries. Beyond sweets, ube can also be cooked like other yams, providing both visual appeal and nutritional value.
White Cassava (Manihot esculenta)
White cassava, a starchy root crop, is a major source of carbohydrates and a staple food for millions worldwide. The roots must be properly prepared—peeled and cooked—to remove naturally occurring cyanogenic compounds and make them safe to eat. Once processed, cassava is used to produce flour, tapioca pearls, chips, desserts, and a variety of traditional dishes across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Yellow Cassava (Manihot esculenta)
Yellow cassava, like white cassava, is a staple root crop but is distinguished by its naturally yellow flesh, which is richer in beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A). After proper preparation, yellow cassava is used in the same way as white cassava—boiled, fried, or processed into flour, tapioca, desserts, and traditional dishes. The taste of yellow cassava is more nutty than white cassava, and it has a firmer texture.
Ornamentals, Palms, and Hardwood Trees
Jade Vine
(Strongylodon macrobotrys)
Jade Vine, also known as emerald vine or turquoise jade vine, is a vigorous tropical woody climber bearing spectacular pendant racemes of claw-shaped flowers in vibrant jade-green to turquoise or aquamarine hues. The dramatic, grape-like clusters—up to 3 feet long with 75+ individual waxy blooms—hang like glowing chains, creating an otherworldly display prized for its unique neon-like color and exotic form. Prefers full sun to partial shade (with roots shaded and vines in light), rich well-drained organic soil, high humidity, and consistent moisture. It can be trained on strong supports like trellises, arbors, or pergolas, or pruned to control size and encourage flowering.
Red Jade Vine (Mucuna bennettii)
Red Jade Vine is a vigorous tropical woody climber bearing spectacular long, pendulous racemes of claw-shaped, fiery scarlet to bright red-orange flowers in cascading clusters up to 1–3 feet long. The dramatic, hook-like blooms create a blazing, exotic display prized for their intense color and striking form. Prefers full sun to partial shade (with roots shaded), rich moist well-drained soil, and high humidity. It can be trained on strong supports like arbors, pergolas, trellises, or trees, or pruned to manage size, though light pruning after bloom is best to avoid delaying flowers.
Puakenikeni (Fagraea berteroana)
Puakenikeni is a tropical tree that bears white blossoms that turn yellow and then orange over the course of three days. The flowers have a very fragrant scent and are used for lei-making here in Hawaii, symbolizing love and honor. The Puakenikeni flower is often known as the "ten-cent flower". Prefers full sun and good drainage. It can be kept as a bush or pruned into a tree.
Gardenia Kula
(Gardenia tubifera 'Kula')
Gardenia Kula is a rare tropical shrub or small tree bearing solitary pinwheel-like white blossoms that turn golden yellow then deep orange over several days. The large, single flowers have long tubular corollas, 6–8 petals, and a very strong, intoxicating nighttime fragrance. Prized for their color-changing display and intense sweet scent. Prefers full sun to partial shade, acidic well-drained soil, and high humidity. Can be maintained as a compact shrub or pruned into a small tree.
Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia)
Angel's Trumpet is a tropical shrub or small tree bearing large, pendulous trumpet-shaped flowers that often open white or cream and may deepen to yellow, pink, orange, or other hues over time. The dramatic blooms, 6–20 inches long, feature a flared corolla and emit a strong, intoxicating nighttime fragrance, often described as sweet, musky, or citrus-like. Prized for their exotic, showy display and powerful scent. Prefers full sun to partial shade, rich well-drained soil, and consistent moisture. It can be grown as a container plant, pruned shrub, or small tree.
Dwarf Poinciana / Peacock flower
(Caesalpinia pulcherrima)
Dwarf Poinciana / Peacock flower is a fast-growing tropical shrub or small tree bearing showy clusters of brilliant orange-yellow to red bowl-shaped flowers with long, contrasting red stamens. The vibrant blooms create an exotic, eye-catching display that attracts butterflies. Prized for their striking color and long bloom season. Prefers full sun, well-drained soil, and tolerates drought once established. It can be maintained as a compact shrub with pruning or allowed to grow into a small tree. Excellent as a colorful hedge.
Dwarf Red Powder Puff
(Calliandra haematocephala 'Nana')
Dwarf Red Powder Puff is a compact tropical shrub bearing showy, fuzzy red powderpuff-like flower heads—up to about 2–3 inches across—made of masses of scarlet stamens emerging from raspberry-like buds. The vibrant crimson blooms appear throughout the year, creating a striking, continuous display that attracts butterflies and bees. Prized for their fluffy, exotic appearance and long bloom season. Prefers full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil and average to moist conditions. It can be maintained as a dense, rounded dwarf shrub (3–6 feet tall) with pruning or used in containers and as bonsai.
Red Mussaenda
(Mussaenda erythrophylla)
Red Mussaenda, also known as Red Flag Bush, is a tropical evergreen shrub bearing clusters of small tubular white to cream flowers with red centers, surrounded by striking enlarged red (or pinkish-red) bracts that create a flag-like, poinsettia-esque display. Prized for their long-lasting, exotic appearance and nearly year-round bloom in ideal conditions. Prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained moist soil. It can be maintained as a compact bushy shrub (3–10 feet tall) with regular pruning.
Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow
(Brunfelsia pauciflora)
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow is a bushy tropical semi-evergreen shrub bearing clusters of tubular flowers that open deep purple (or violet), fade to lavender (or light purple/mauve), then turn white over 2–3 days, often displaying all three colors simultaneously on the plant. Prefers full sun to partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It can be maintained as a compact shrub (typically 3–8 feet tall) with pruning or allowed to grow larger. Good for use as a colorful privacy hedge.
Pink Crepe Myrtle
(Lagerstroemia indica)
Pink Crepe Myrtle is a deciduous shrub or small tree bearing crinkly, crepe-paper-like flowers in shades of vibrant pink, magenta-pink, or rose-pink. The ruffled blooms with crimped petals create a profuse, colorful summer-to-fall display that attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. Prized for their long-lasting, eye-catching floral spectacle. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It can be maintained as a multi-stemmed shrub, pruned for shape, or trained into a small tree with a vase-like or rounded form. Can be used as a privacy hedge.
Madre de Cacao
(Gliricidia sepium)
Madre de Cacao, also known as Quick Stick or Mexican Lilac, is a fast-growing tropical deciduous tree bearing dense clusters of pea-like bright pink to lilac flowers. Prized for ornamental blooms, nitrogen-fixing roots, and uses as living fences, shade, and fodder. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It can be pruned frequently as a shrubby hedge or allowed to grow into a small to medium tree with an open crown.
Hong Kong Orchid Tree
(Bauhinia × blakeana)
Hong Kong Orchid Tree is a small to medium tropical semi-evergreen tree bearing large, orchid-like rose-purple to crimson-pink flowers (up to 5–6 inches across) with mild fragrance. The flamboyant blooms create a spectacular winter-to-spring display (November–April), prized for exotic color. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil (best flowering in drier conditions). It can be maintained with a rounded or umbrella-like canopy, often multi-trunked, and pruned young for strong structure.
Pink Orchard Tree
(Bauhinia monandra)
Pink Orchid Tree is a small to medium tropical deciduous tree bearing large, showy orchid-like flowers in soft pink with darker reddish-purple mottling (especially on one petal) and a single curved stamen. The 3–5 inch blooms appear profusely year-round here in Hawaii. Prefers full sun to light shade and well-drained soil (tolerates dry/poor conditions). It can be maintained with a rounded crown as a specimen or pruned for shape and size.
Pink Tecoma (Tabebuia rosea)
Pink Tecoma, also known as Pink Trumpet Tree or Rosy Trumpet Tree, is a small to medium tropical tree bearing large, showy trumpet-shaped flowers in soft pink to lavender-pink shades, often with a pale yellow throat. The 2–3 inch blooms create a spectacular, vibrant display prized for its exotic color and profuse flowering before new leaves emerge. Prefers full sun, well-drained soil (tolerates drought once established). It can be maintained with a rounded or vase-shaped canopy as a street tree, specimen, or shade tree, often multi-trunked.
Narra (Pterocarpus indicus)
Narra, the national tree of the Philippines, is a large tropical semi-deciduous tree bearing dense clusters of small, bright yellow to orange-yellow pea-like flowers. The flowers create a spectacular golden canopy display that attracts bees and other pollinators. Prized for its valuable reddish-brown hardwood timber, striking floral show, and graceful weeping form. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It can be maintained as a shade tree with a broad, rounded or umbrella-like canopy, though it often reaches 50–100 feet tall in ideal conditions.
Rainbow Eucalyptus
(Eucalyptus deglupta)
Rainbow Eucalyptus, also called Mindanao Gum, is a fast-growing tropical evergreen tree with small white to cream bottlebrush-like flowers. It’s prized for its hardwood timber and its striking peeling bark, which reveals vivid green, blue, purple, orange, red, and brown streaks, creating a striking, ever-changing display. It prefers full sun and moist well-drained soil. Typically grown as an ornamental, it can reach over 100 feet in ideal conditions, though smaller in cultivation.
Podocarpus
(Podocarpus macrophyllus)
Podocarpus is a slow to moderate-growing evergreen tree with narrow, dark green leaves. It’s valued for its dense, refined foliage and versatility, lending a clean, architectural look in landscapes or hedging. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Commonly used as a hedge, screen, or specimen, it can reach 20–40 feet tall in ideal conditions, though often kept smaller with pruning.
Carpoxylon
(Carpoxylon macrospermum)
The Carpoxylon Palm is a rare tropical palm with a smooth green trunk and a graceful crown of arching, feathery deep green fronds, bearing small cream-colored flowers followed by large oval fruits containing edible nuts. It’s prized for its elegant, solitary form and lush, ornamental presence. It prefers full sun to partial shade, rich well-drained soil, and high humidity. Grown as a striking specimen, it typically reaches 15–40 feet tall in ideal conditions, though slower and smaller in cultivation.
Red Ceiling Wax Palm
(Cyrtostachys renda)
Red Sealing Wax Palm, also called the Lipstick Palm, is a slender tropical palm with arching feathery light green fronds and brilliant red crownshafts and leaf bases. It’s prized for its vivid coloration and striking, ornamental presence. It prefers full sun to partial shade, consistently moist, well-drained soil, and high humidity. Often grown as a specimen or in clusters, it typically reaches 15–30 feet tall in ideal conditions, though smaller in cultivation.
Orange Crownshaft Palm
(Areca vestiaria)
Orange Crownshaft Palm, also called the Sunset Palm, is a tropical palm with arching feathery green fronds and a vivid orange crownshaft, bearing small pale flowers followed by bright red ornamental fruits. It’s prized for its vibrant coloration and graceful, clumping form. It prefers partial shade, rich well-drained soil, and high humidity. Often grown as a specimen or in clusters, it typically reaches 10–20 feet tall in ideal conditions, though smaller in cultivation.
Red Ti (Cordyline fruticosa)
Red Ti, also called Ti Plant or Hawaiian Ti, is a tropical plant with broad, glossy leaves, bearing small fragrant flowers followed by bright ornamental berries. It’s prized for its bold foliage color and lush, ornamental presence. It prefers full sun to partial shade, rich well-drained soil, and consistent moisture with high humidity. Often grown as a specimen or in groupings, it typically reaches 4–8 feet tall in ideal conditions. Can be planted in a row as a colorful privacy hedge.
Nepenthes Pitcher Plant
(Nepenthes spp.)
Nepenthes Pitcher Plant is a carnivorous tropical plant with elongated leaves that form hanging pitchers filled with digestive fluid. It’s prized for its exotic, insect-trapping pitchers in mottled patterns. It prefers bright indirect light, consistently moist but well-drained media, and high humidity. Often grown as a container specimen or hanging plant.