Family: Sapotaceae

Chrysophyllum oliviforme, commonly known as satinleaf, is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree native to southern Florida, the Caribbean, and parts of Central America. It is especially admired for its striking foliage—leaves are deep green on top with a glossy, bronze-gold underside that gives the tree a shimmering appearance when moved by wind. Satinleaf produces small, dark purple fruits that are attractive to birds and other wildlife. Because of its ornamental beauty and tolerance of a range of soil conditions, it has been widely planted in Hawaiʻi as a landscape and street tree.

Despite its popularity, satinleaf poses ecological concerns in Hawaiʻi. The species is naturalized on Niʻihau (including Lehua), Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island, where it is able to reproduce and spread beyond cultivated settings. Its shade tolerance and bird-dispersed seeds allow it to establish in native forests, where it may compete with native plants for light, space, and resources. Over time, satinleaf has the potential to alter forest structure and reduce native biodiversity. Due to these risks, planting satinleaf is discouraged, and choosing native or low-risk alternatives is recommended to help protect Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Shade tolerant, allowing establishment beneath intact forest canopies
  
• Bird-dispersed fruits, enabling long-distance seed spread into natural areas
  
• Evergreen growth habit, providing a competitive advantage year-round
  
• Produces abundant viable seeds once mature
  
• Attractive ornamental qualities, increasing likelihood of widespread planting
  
• Capable of forming dense stands under favorable conditions
  
• Closely related to known invasive Chrysophyllum species in tropical regions

Low Risk Traits:

• Slow to moderate growth rate, especially during early establishment
  
• Long juvenile period before first fruiting
  
• No specialized vegetative reproduction (does not spread by runners or resprouting aggressively)
  
• Limited cold tolerance, restricting spread to tropical and subtropical climates
  
• Management is feasible through manual removal when plants are young