Mokihana (Melicope anisata)

The famous mokihana berry.

 Every island in the state of Hawai'i has their own state flower or lei material. On the island of Kaua'i, their state lei material is the Mokihana. This ornamental plant represents the island of Kaua'i and has an interesting scent. In the old Hawaiian days, Hawaiian women and men wore the berries as a lei and the twigs and berries were placed between folds of tapa cloth for scent. Now, this berry is commonly used for lei making.

Picture taken from: www.statesymbolsusa.org

Blue Trumpet Vine (Thunbergia grandiflora)

This flower has a nice blue and yellow contrast.

This ornamental plant is vine-like but grows like a weed in the sense that it covers trees and shrubs.  It is very pleasing to eyes if maintained properly. Some find this plant to be an annoyance and others like that it can cascade down fences as decoration. It is an easy plant to maintain if used as an ornamental plant which makes it a great houseplant.

Picture taken from: www.wildlifeofhawaii.com

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

The nasturtium is distinct because of it's large round leaves.

 This interesting ornamental plant can come in a variety of colors such as orange, yellow, red, cream, or pink. Not only is it an ornamental plant, but it is also an edible plant as well. The flowers and young leaves can be eaten and used in salads. The flavor is unique and tastes hot, peppery, and watercress-like. The seeds of this plant can also be dried and used as a pepper substitute if ground. With so many uses it's no wonder why this is a great ornamental plant to own!

Picture taken from: www.wildlifehawaii.com

Telegraphweed (Heterotheca grandiflora)

Some weeds like this one actually produce cute flowers.

Some weeds are just too cute to cut! That is the case for this telegraphweed. The flowers it produces are bright and yellow which can add a nice pop of color to any garden or roadside. This happens to be the only Heterotheca species found in Hawai'i so it is quite special. Although this plant is nice in appearance, it is known for being stink! Touching these plants can leave an unpleasant smell on your hands. That may be the biggest reason for this weeds prolonged life. 

Picture taken from: www.wildlifeofhawaii.com

Liliko'i (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa)

The liliko'i fruit perfect to make juices.

This short-lived plant is not only an ornamental, but it is most famously a food plant. This plant grows great in Hawai'i because it loves sunny locations. The fruit that is known for being in juices is large, tart, and yellow in color. This plant is helpful because it is used by humans as well as Gulf Fritillary butterflies. Their larvae feed on the fruit. Humans eat the tart, flavorful pulp or the pulp can be strained and made into a juice or syrup. The juice or syrup can be used to flavor deserts or used as syrup for pancakes. It is also used as a flavor for our locally popular shave ice.

Picture taken from: www.wildlifeofhawaii.com

Hunakai (Ipomoea imperati)

A simple white flower found near many beaches.

The Hunakai is a very strong plant that is drought tolerant. It can grow to cover a lot of area so it needs plenty of room and it loves the sun. It is popularly found on beaches and sand dunes. This plant is useful for decorating the beach because of it's salt tolerance. It's name which means "sea foam" in Hawaiian is appropriate because it grows on the shoreline. 

Picture taken from: www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu

Kou (Cordia subcordata)

The Kou tree outside of the Hamilton Library.

The Kou tree is a great ornamental tree used for providing shade and screening. As you can see from the picture above this large tree creates an even larger shadow. It is used for landscaping along streets, public parks, housing areas and yards. In the Hawaiian culture this tree was known for it's great bark used for carving bowls, platters, and canoes. The flowers of the Kous were used to make leis. The seeds were even eaten when food was scarce. 

Picture taken from: www.flickr.com

Alula (Brighamia insignis)

A nice small plant to keep around the house.

This ornamental plant is small in size but has a nice fragrance. This flower is known for have a sweet honeysuckle-like fragrance. This is a very scarce plant that does not have natural pollinators alive. Many of the plants were destroyed during local hurricanes. The flowers can be used to for lei making.

Picture taken from: www.nativeplants.hawaii.edu

ʻIlima pua kea (Abutilon incanum)

The flower produced is a nice yellow and red color.

This is a very easy houseplant to grow and maintain. It loves sunny weather and is tolerant to drought. This flower used to be used in lei making but it does not have a scent. 

Picture taken from: www.fireflyhawaii.com

Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

The delicious fruit that is one of Hawai'i's largest tourist attraction.

The famous Pineapple can speak for itself. It is a large industry here in Hawai'i and is an iconic figure associated with the islands. The delicious fruit is tart and sweet in flavor. It is used to make all kinds of this from juices, dried as a snack, cut into cubes for eating, or an additive to many dishes. The flavor is used to flavor ice creams, syrups, and even medicine. 

Picture taken from: www.growhawaii.com

Hawaiian Kahili Ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum)

Unique ginger flower that only grows in high elevations.

If you've ever seen pictures of old Hawaiian cheifs, they had a pole next to them with yellow feathers attached to a cylindrical head. The poles were called kahilis and were a symbol of royalty. This ornamental plant looks like the kahilis, hence, it is called the Hawaiian Kahili Ginger. This plant has a nice fragrance and will grow at very high altitudes. 

Picture taken from: www.growhawaii.com

Noni (Morinda citrifolia)

There are a few noni plants that can be spotted on the sidewalks on the streets of Oahu.

This ornamental plant is nowadays seen in yards or along side the street on the sidewalk, but it was commonly used as a medicinal plant for native Hawaiians. Although this plant has a nasty odor, everything but the fruits were used medicinally. It has a wide variety of uses such as for coughs to more severe things like for strokes. This would be a very useful ornamental plant to have around.

Picture taken from: http://www.tradewindsfruit.com

Koa (Acacia koa)

Some of the seed pods that form from koa trees.

This is a forest tree most popularly used for it's hard and study wood. After very varnished pieces made with Koa wood can be extremely expensive. Their are stores on the islands dedicated to selling furniture and good made exclusively from koa wood. Currently a trend is phone cases and watches made from koa wood. 

Picture taken from: http://www.tradewindsfruit.com

Song of India (Dracaena reflexa)

There are many of these around the UH Manoa campus.

I have seen this plant in the yards of many houses and decorating the sides of buildings. It is a garden plant, houseplant, and tropical foliage plant. The unique green and white leaves make this a very visually appealing ornamental plant. 

Picture taken from: www.wildlifeofhawaii.com

Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)

This plant's large leafs are famous for appearing on Hawaiian quilts.

The Monstera is known for being very large as you can tell by the name. It is commonly used in floral arrangements, a design for quilt making and in local designs of cloth. It is a great garden or houseplant. This plant is also unique in that the ripe flesh of the fruit is edible and it has a tropical fruit salad flavor. A huge thing to note is that the foliage and unripe fruit are actually poisonous and contain calcium oxalate which can cause severe irritation in the mouth.

Picture taken from: www.wilflifehawaii.com

'Ohi'a Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)

Flowers that only flourish at high elevations.

This is a huge money maker for the islands and it is cultivated by making hybrids of the different species. It grows at high elevations which makes it difficult to grow. This flower is popular for flower arrangements and was one of the first plants to colonize lava flow areas. 

Picture taken from: www.wildlifehawaii.com

Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum)

A beautiful anthurium put in many flower arrangements.

The anthurium is a popular flower in floral arrangements. It comes in a variety of different colors like red, white, and yellow. It is especially known for being long lasting in cut floral arrangements. The waxy hear-shaped spathe makes it very appealing to the eyes. 

Picture taken from: www.wildlifeofhawaii.com

Octopus Tree (Schefflera actinophylla)

It is called an octopus tree because of the sees that form in the shape of octopus legs.

The octopus tree is a common ornamental plant around the islands. The red berries that form are spread out along branches that look like octopus legs. This plant is seen as a pest to native plant lovers because it is an introduced species that has spread like wildfire. 

Picture taken from: www.mgonline.com

Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata)

This flower is a beautiful pewter blue color.

These flowers are really pretty and dainty, but be warned they are very poisonous. They grow in clusters and come in pale blue or white. This a great ornamental plant because it grows year round. 

Picture taken from: www.wildlifeofhawaii.com

Hanging Lobster Claw (Heliconia rostrata)

This is one of the more unique ornamental flowering plants that looks like a lobster claw.

This extremely unusually shaped flower makes for great long lasting cut flower arrangement pieces. It also resembles a lobster claw which is how it got it's name. It grows great in sunny to partly cloudy skies and at low elevations which makes it great for growing in gardens.

Picture taken from: www.wildlifeofhawaii.com

Papaya (Carica papaya)

Some ripe papaya growing.

This is a very fast growing tree which bears fruit that is very healthy to eat. An ornamental plant with edible fruits is always nice to have in your garden. Papaya is used as an ingredient in many other foods and can be eaten raw or cooked. There is an enzyme in the dried milky sap of the fruit called Papain which is used as a meant tenderizer.

Picture taken from: www.flickr.com

Ixora (Ixora grandiflora)

A shrub I see in many yards on Oahu. This one was found in the Japanese Garden at UH Manoa.

Picture taken by me.

Mango (Mangifera indica)

It's mango season! The delicious fruit that everyone waits for.

One of my favorite fruits is mango! It is grown in many yards as a ornamental tree and it grows delicious edible fruit. The fruit can be eaten raw, cooked, dried, juiced, or pickled. These trees are amazing and can live for several hundred of years. Below is a picture of my own mango tree at home.

The mango tree outside of my house.

Pictures taken by me.

Fan Palm (Arecaceae livistona)

One of the many different types of palms growing on campus.

Picture taken by me.

Kukui (Aleurites moluccana)

A large Kukui tree growing in front of Bildger.

Picture taken by me.

Bamboo (Schizostachyum glaucifolium)

Bamboo growing at the St. John building in UH Manoa.

Picture taken by me.

Banana Tree (Musa acuminata)

One of the many banana trees growing in UH Manoa.

Picture taken by me.

Coconut Tree (Cocos nucifera)

A small coconut tree outside of a classroom in UH Manoa.

Picture taken by me.

Mother-In-Law's-Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Mother-in-law's-tongue growing wild and free at the UH Manoa campus.

Picture taken by me.

Plumeria (Plumeria obtusa)

A cluster of Plumeria flowers glowing in the evening.

Picture taken by me.

Laua'e (Phymatosorus scolopendria)

Some laua'e lining the sidewalk by Chef Chai's new restaurant.

 Picture taken by me.

Monkeypod Tree (Samanea saman)

A bare Monkeypod tree in the Japanese Gardens at UH Manoa.

Picture taken by me.

Red Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus)

Red Bottlebrush at the Japanese Gardens in UH Manoa.

Picture taken by me.

Japanese Tobira (Pittosporum tobira)

The Japanese Tobira in the Japanese Gardens at UH Manoa.

Picture taken by me

Red Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)My

My very own Hibiscus plant at home.

Picture taken by me.

Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata)

Red Ginger found in Krauss Hall

Picture taken by me.

Ti Leaf (Cordyline fruticosa)

Ti Leaf plant in Krauss Hall.

Picture taken by me.

Parade Rose (Rosa hybrids)

Miniature rose plants that can be placed in the house or outside.

Picture taken by me.

Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum)

Potted Easter Lilies at Walmart for the Easter holiday.

Picture taken by me.

Baker's Shower Tree (Cassia bakeriana)

The beautiful Baker's Shower Tree in front of Hamilton Library

This is another type of ornamental plant from the Cassia genus. This specific species blossoms pale light pink flowers that are extremely beautiful in the spring. The flowers are extremely dainty looking and I have noticed people referring to it as the cherry blossom tree on campus. It is used as an ornamental tree to give a color. The only downfall to this tree is that it is a prolific seed producer and it's seeds have an awful smell. This is the main reason why people often do not choose to use this as an ornamental tree even though the flowers are very beautiful.

Picture Taken by me.

Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula)

Golden Shower Tree

 I have seen a few of these Golden Shower Trees near the UH Manoa Campus and by my house near Kahala. It was never the right time to take a picture of my own, but this picture I found really displays the beauty of the golden hue. Other than the amazing color that contrasts nicely against the blue sky, this ornamental tree is also known for it's bad smelling pods of seeds known as the fruit. It is an extremely low maintenance tree that thrives perfectly in warm climate. This tree also creates a lot of rubbish once the flowers start to fall.

Picture taken from: www.slowtrav.com

Desert Rose (Adenium obesum)

My Nanna's beloved desert rose that has grown strong and healthy over the past two years.

Besides the unmistakably beautiful flower that blossoms from this plant, it is also distinguished by it's large caudices that hold the plant's water supply. This ornamental plant is a type of succulent that is perfect for Hawai'i hot dry weather. It needs little maintenance as far as watering goes which is great. The Desert Rose has beautiful flowers that have hot pink tips and a pastel pink inner color. This is also a very expensive and prized ornamental plant to own.

Picture taken by me.

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectablis)

A perfect example of the vibrant and colorful bougainvillea decorating the wall of my neighbors house.

Walking down just about any block on the island of Oahu, I am sure you will see a Bougainvillea. They can be seen as a small bush, potted, planted in the ground, or growing wild and free. They are known for their paper like bracts that vary in a wide array of colors from the above pictured magenta color, to orange, pink, white, or burgundy. This a very popular choice for an ornamental plant because it adds a vivid pop of color to any garden. Also, this plant is perfect for growing in Hawai'i's warm weather and salty air.

Picture taken by me.

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

It is that time of year again where the Christmas trees start coming out, crazy shoppers are rushing around, presents are bring wrapped, and Christmas just would not be Christmas without seeing a Poinsettia plant in the mall. This plant has become symbolic of Christmas and is even sometimes called the Christmas plant. It is known for it's bright red bracts and tiny yellow flowers. The red bracts are often mistaken as the flower but are actually a form of modified leafs to attract pollinators. It has been found that this ornamental plant and its sap are used in medicine. People take Poinsettia for fevers or to stimulate breast milk production. When the sap (latex) is applied directly to the skin it can remove hair, treat warts, and heal other skin disorders. This plant is not only responsible for spreading the holiday cheer but can also spread medical treatment.

This is a creative design of putting many poinsettia plants together to create a red Christmas tree.

Picture taken from: www.wehartit.com

Orchids (Cattleya)

It is very unlikely to come to Hawai'i and never see an orchid. Orchids especially from the genus Cattleya are extremely common as ornamental house plants. They are known to be housewarming gifts, ceremonial displays, and even bred for competition. The orchid business is booming in Hawai'i and the Cattleya genus is especially popular because they are known for their large, showy flowers that occur in all colors except true blue and black. A local favorite is to use orchids in various styles of lei making and wedding arrangements. As mentioned earlier, orchids are always entered into horticultural competitions for their vivid appearance and unique features. Orchids are also used in garnishing meals since they are edible and offer a nice touch to any plated dish. Lastly, orchids can also be used for medical purposes such as treating arthritis, earache, malaria, and snakebites.

A homegrown lavender colored Cattleya orchid right in my backyard.

 Picture taken with my own camera.

Wonder of the World (Kalanchoe pinnata)

This common ornamental plant commonly known as The Wonder of the World is small but packs a huge medicinal punch. It may also be known as the Air Plant, Life Plant or Miracle Leaf. Other than the fact that this plant is very easy to grow and can basically grow anywhere, it has many medicinal uses. It is most commonly known for easing muscle aches. You just have to heat the leafs and rub it on the pained area and the pain will disappear. The leaves can be added to hot water for a foot bathe to ease foot pain or brewed in tea to heal coughs, and the heated leaves can even placed on top of the eye to rid stye eyes. It is easy to spot small potted versions of this plant in many local garden stores or even grocery markets that sell small potted house plants. I have seen this plant everywhere in Hawai'i and never knew that it had so many medicinal uses.

A single flower could be as small as a fingernail.

Picture taken from: www.plantoftheweek.org

Bird of Paradise (Strelitza reginae)

Bird of Paradise found on UH Manoa's Upper Campus

The Strelitza reginae commonly known as the Bird of Paradise flower is common to South America. It is a very common ornamental plant around the world because of the interesting flower that resembles a tropical bird. Also when the plant is not in bloom the leaves of the plant are long and kind of resemble that of a banana tree. The Bird of Paradise is a common ornamental plant here on the islands because it loves sunlight and adds to the islands tropical essence.

Picture taken with my own camera.

Crown Flower (Calotropis gigantean)

This is a lei composed of a small pink rose and the purple crown flower.

The beautiful, bloomed, and unpicked crown flowers.

The Crown flower is scientifically called the Calotropis gigantea, but in Hawaiian it is called the pua kalaunu. This was a beloved flower of Queen Lili'uokalani which arrived in the islands around 1871. This is an especially prized ornamental plant for lei makers who use the long-lasting flowers to create intricate leis. This flower does not have a strong scent so it is good for those sensitive to smell. The only downfall of this plant is that it produces a milky sap which you need to be weary of when handling this plant. The best reason of all to have this as an ornamental plant is that it attracts beautiful monarch butterfly caterpillars. The leaves of the plant are a favorite food source for the caterpillars. The caterpillars will later turn into Monarch butterflies that flutter around the plant as well. This ornamental plant is commonly found around schools, homes, as well as hotels. It is truly a beautiful sight to see Monarch butterflies all around the tree.

First Picture from: http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Asia/India/photo232426.htm
Second Picture: taken with my own camera