Family: Thymelaeaceae

A small shrub (3-5 feet tall) with either a densely branched prostrate or sprawling habit. Grey-green opaque oval leaves overlap in an opposite arrangement. Blooming occurs in the winter and spring. Delicate tubular yellow-green flowers are unisexual. After pollination, flowers give way to plump red, yellow, or orange fruit, all contrasting nicely with the foliage.

Habitat & Uses

Endemic to Hawaiʻi, ʻākia is a hardy plant native to Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, and Maui. You can find ʻākia scattered in dry lower elevations (sea level to 2000 feet) areas like dry ridges, open hillsides, ledges, windswept headlands, clay flats, ʻaʻa lava fields, coastal areas, and among dry open areas dominated by alien vegetation.

Hawaiians used ʻākia for many different things. This plant is famously known as a natural fish poison. Seeped like an ʻākia teabag in a small tide pool, the fish became stupefied and easy to catch. The poison did not transfer to humans or warm-blooded animals who ate the fish. But still, be cautious when working with ʻākia. The bark produced some of the strongest Hawaiian fibers for making ropes and braids, while the wood could be fashioned into ʻauamo (carrying sticks) and ceremonial firewood for ʻanāʻanā (black magic). In traditional medicine, ʻākia could be mixed with other lāʻau lapaʻau (medicinal plants) to treat constipation, feminine issues, and shortness of breath. Today, ʻākia has been shown to contain ethanol extracts that could be used for anti-tumor treatments. The fruit and foliage are used to make lei, wreaths, and other floral arrangements.

Landscaping & Cultivation

ʻĀkia has been a popular landscaping plant for coastal, arid, and warmer lowland areas. This species is a low maintenance plant that makes native gardening almost effortless. The dense foliage is excellent for shading out undesirable plants and filling in empty spaces. The County of Hawaiʻi takes advantage of the weed-suppressing nature of ʻākia in landscaping (e.g., use an ʻākia hedge to surround a beautiful koaiʻa). Feel free to shape ʻākia into hedges, but do not prune too severely at one time. ʻĀkia can also perform well in xeriscape gardens or within containers placed in full sun and regularly watered.

It is wind, salt, and drought-tolerant. Place plants 12-24 inches apart in full sun and enrich periodically with a time-released fertilizer every 6 months. Watering is only required until established, then sporadic watering during dry months. Propagation is best done by seed and can be accelerated by cleaning the seeds and soaking first. Just be mindful of sap, which can burn sensitive skin and eyes.  Treat for common insect pests as needed and watch for chickens as they are known to scratch at this plant’s roots. Plant your ʻākia amongst companion plants like ʻilima, ʻaʻaliʻi, kupukupu, pōhinahina, ʻiliʻeʻe, ʻūlei, and kuluʻī.

Name Origins

The ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ʻākia can mean the ʻākia plant, an endemic shrub with dark berries Solanum nelsoni, or to ferment/very sour. When the word is broken apart, ʻā can mean fiery, ʻaʻa lava rock, or to drive as fish or cattle. Kia can mean a pole/post, fish trap, or to concentrate/direct [energy] especially in sorcery. It’s easy to see the connections between the ʻākia plant and its uses for fishing and magics. The genus Wikstroemia is in honor of Johan Emanuel Wikstrom, a Swedish botanist. Uva-ursi is derived from Latin uva meaning grape or berry and ursi meaning bear.

Plant Uses:

• Bonsai
• Container plant
• Cultural significance
• Erosion control
• Hedge
• Lei flower
• Medicinal
• Ornamental
• Specimen
• Bonzai

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers