Flower profile

ʻōhiʻa lehua

Metrosideros polymorpha

ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is a shrub or small tree in the Myrtaceae family, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Native to Hawaii

ʻōhiʻa lehua is a flowering plant. In Hawaii it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

1states where USDA records it

9,729HI sightings*

9,729U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Hawaii

Quick look

Metrosideros polymorpha, the ʻōhiʻa lehua, is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaiʻi. It is a member of the diverse Metrosideros genus, which are widespread over the southwest Pacific. It is the state tree of Hawaiʻi.
From Wikipedia's article Metrosideros polymorpha, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Myrtaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Hawaii. ^NatureServe
In Hawaii, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as red. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 65 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 9,729 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #1 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Hawaii, most flowering sightings come in May–June.

Flowering records by month in Hawaii (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (329 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Hawaii: Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: S5, secure in Hawaii. ^{HAR 13-107}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records ʻōhiʻa lehua in 1 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Hawaii.

Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives ʻōhiʻa lehua a high shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.3 to 5.7 and winter lows down to 22 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: Low
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium
Soil pH range: 4.3 to 5.7
Minimum temperature tolerated: 22 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 320
Annual precipitation range: 20 to 450 inches
Minimum root depth: 24 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Slow
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Fall to Winter
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MEPO5. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 4 counties across 1 states; the most are in Hawaii (4).

More from the Myrtaceae family (1 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Strawberry-guava.

More Hawaii flowers

Strawberry-guava

Psidium cattleyanum

🌼 Few flowering records in HI

Beach naupaka

Scaevola taccada

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: May–December

Pūkiawe

Leptecophylla tameiameiae

🌼 Few flowering records in HI

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile MEPO5.
iNaturalist, Metrosideros polymorpha: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Metrosideros polymorpha (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Metrosideros polymorpha (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Kevin Faccenda via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.