In the Garden
Rick Barboza
’Uhi ’Uhi
LATIN NAME
Caesalpinia kavaiensis
Description: Large shrubs to small trees up to 30 feet tall with pale green pinnate leaves. Pinnate is a botanical word for individual leaves comprising smaller leaflets. The mid rib is slightly hairy and rusty brown in color. The bark of 'uhi'uhi is grayish-brown and the extremely hard heartwood is dark brown. The wood of this plant is so dense that it sinks in salt water. The flowers of 'uhi'uhi are a spectacular vibrant pink, arranged on a raceme (a cluster of flowers arranged on the axis of a single stalk). They completely cover the plant when in full bloom.
Distribution: Once a widespread endemic plant found in the dry to mesic forests of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai and Hawaii, 'uhi'uhi is now an endangered species with only a handful of individuals remaining on the islands of Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii.
Cultural uses: The hard wood of 'uhi'uhi is used to make spears for fighting as well as fishing clubs known as melomelo or makalei that are smeared with bait and left at the entrance of fishponds to attract fish into them.
Landscape uses and care: If you see this plant being sold anywhere, get it. It's one that I've seen for sale only a couple of times. If you are fortunate enough to get it, plant it in full sun in areas that are fairly dry. Well-drained soil is best and watering is only necessary when the soil around the plant has completely dried out.
Fertilizer is OK but not mandatory and the only pests you should watch out for are beetles that have stem-boring larvae. Often you will see a stem of this plant oozing with sap. This is typically the result of a type of non-native beetle larvae that eat the wood out of many native hardwood trees. If you see this sap or a section of branch dry up, immediately cut it off to prevent any further damage to the tree.
Rick Barboza co-owns Hui Ku Maoli Ola, a Native Hawaiian plant nursery, with Matt Schirman. Contact him at 259-6580 or e-mail rickckbarboza@aol.com.
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