Family: Apocynaceae

Pakalana is a prized vine and beautifies a yard when allowed and grow on a sturdy fence. Commonly used in lei, it also has a lovely fragrance. Flowers are stir-fried or boiled in soup in Southeast Asia. Pakalana flowers are rich in carbohydrates and vitamins A and C. It is believed that it was introduced to Hawaiʻi in the mid-1800s from southern China.

Plant Uses:

• Edible
• Fragrant
• Lei flower
• Ornamental

Plant Dangers:

• Allergenic
• Fire hazard
• Thorns or spines
• Toxic to animals and humans

High Risk Traits:

• Grows in tropical climates
  
• Widely cultivated outside native range
  
• Climbing vine (can smother other plants)
  
• Produces viable seeds
  
• Dispersed intentionally by people
  
• Seeds adapted for wind dispersal

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines/thorns)
  
• Not toxic (leaves and flowers are eaten)
  
• Not reported as a weed (no naturalization evidence)
  
• Requires full sun (not shade tolerant)
  
• Requires specialist pollinators (moths)
  
• Low seed production in introduced areas