ʻŪlei: More Than Just a Pretty Flower

For Native Hawaiian Plant Month, we’re highlighting the plants that make Hawaiʻi special—plants that are rooted in culture, woven into moʻolelo, and still very much a part of our lives today.

ʻŪlei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia) is a native Hawaiian shrub found across many of the main Hawaiian Islands, often growing low and sprawling near the coast or climbing upright in higher elevations. You might also hear it called Hawaiian rose or Hawaiian hawthorn because of its delicate, white rose-like blossoms.

But don’t let its dainty flowers fool you—ʻūlei is one tough plant.

Its wood was prized by Native Hawaiians for being exceptionally hard and durable. It was used to make strong tools like ʻōʻō (digging sticks), ihe (spears), and even parts of papa heʻenalu (surfboards) and papa kuʻi ʻai (poi boards). While small in stature, ʻūlei packed a punch when it came to utility.

Today, ʻūlei continues to be valued for its beauty in native gardens and its role in restoration work. It provides habitat for native wildlife and adds a touch of elegance with its small clusters of white flowers and dark berries, which were once eaten in times of famine.

This resilient shrub reminds us that strength and beauty can—and often do—go hand in hand.