Nearly all plants growing in yards and along roads on the Big Island are non-native, and some of those are invasive. Many of the imports are beautiful in color and shape.
However, the most common tree--and I think the most beautiful--growing on the Big Island is the ohi'a lehua. It grows from sea level to alpine and is a pioneer species, being one of the first plants to grow on fresh lava flows. It can look like a shrub, short, scrubby tree, or a tall overstory tree. The most striking feature is the red pom-pom like flowers; the color is from the long, red stamens, not the petals, which are small and inconspicuous. As with lava, I could take a million pictures of this beautiful tree.
Non-native colorful trees in a yard in Kona, Hawaii
However, the most common tree--and I think the most beautiful--growing on the Big Island is the ohi'a lehua. It grows from sea level to alpine and is a pioneer species, being one of the first plants to grow on fresh lava flows. It can look like a shrub, short, scrubby tree, or a tall overstory tree. The most striking feature is the red pom-pom like flowers; the color is from the long, red stamens, not the petals, which are small and inconspicuous. As with lava, I could take a million pictures of this beautiful tree.
A new disease is killing millions of ohi'a trees across Hawaii. Two newly identified fungal species are causing "Rapid Ohi'a Death or ROD. To combat the spread, the state has a quarantine on the movement of ohi'a plants and wood and other guidance for homeowners and people visiting ROD-infected areas.
Many trailheads on the Big Island have the following signs and shoe brush to prevent spreading of invasive plant seeds, fungal spores, and other potential damaging material.
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