Family: Gentianaceae

Helia alata, also called arbol de mal casada or wild tobacco, is a small tree from Central and South America. It grows 3–6 meters tall and has broad, lance-shaped leaves with clusters of small, tubular flowers. People have used it for traditional medicine, and it’s sometimes grown for its attractive foliage. It can grow in many soil types and climates, which makes it popular in tropical gardens.

While Helia alata isn’t known to be growing wild in Hawaii, it has traits that could cause problems. It produces lots of seeds, grows quickly, and can survive in many conditions. On tropical islands, these traits could let it spread into natural areas, crowd out native plants, and change habitats. For gardeners looking for a safer option, it’s best to choose a low-risk or native plant instead.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalizing on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands
  
• Weed in secondary vegetation and disturbed areas
  
• Plant reported to be very toxic
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Small seeds dispersed by wind, gravity
  
• Seeds are sticky, which would aid in attachment to people, equipment, vehicles or animals
  
• Common in roadsides and other heavily trafficked areas, which would facilitate accidental dispersal

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or weediness outside native range, but no evidence of cultivation
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Medicinal uses
  
• Reportedly pollinated by bats, which could minimize or limit seed set outside native range