HAWAI'I GARDENS
Pua kenikeni fruit add delightful color to holidays
By Heidi Bornhorst
Q. What are those orange balls on my pua kenikeni tree? They are so pretty, is there any use for them? They look like an 'ono fall harvest. Are they good to leave on or take off of my prized pua tree?
— P. Shimokawa, Manoa
A. Pua kenikeni fruit are filled with hundreds of tiny black seeds, from which you can grow a new tree. They are a tasty treat for birds, and pet cats also like to play with the orange fruit balls.
Although they are very pretty and festive, it is best to cut them all off the tree if you want lots of pua kenikeni blossoms for next spring and for lei day. Taking off developing fruit or spent blooms is what gardeners call "deadheading" and will give you more flowers.
In bloom
Doris Taitano and I took an evening walk through a Honolulu neighborhood recently and were amazed at how many beautiful orange-colored fruits were around. It is so festive for the holidays.
The orange fruit "balls" of pua kenikeni were juxtaposed against gorgeous orange tangerines.
I always want to plant a tangerine tree at this time of year.
They are so pretty and ornamental and the fruits are so 'ono and juicy, warding off colds and flu as we consume them.
Tangelos, oranges and other citruses may not color up perfect orange in lowland Hawai'i, yet the colors are subtle and pretty. Kalamansi, tiny Filipino limes, are one of my all-time favorites with their small and juicy sweet-tart fruit and ornamental nature. They are a perfect size for our smaller gardens or for pot culture.
Chili peppers or nioi are another useful and ornamental plant. We saw one in a well-tended garden of native plants, vegies, herbs, fruit trees and dryland kalo (taro). The red, orange and green of the ripening chilies were so gorgeous set against a bonsaied tangelo with its pendant branches filled with ripening fruit.
The orange shrimp plant is another nice plant with shades of red, orange and yellow. My gardening tutu May Moir always recognized the ornamental potential of this fall- and winter-blooming plant. It is easy to propagate from cuttings to make more plants for you and for garden gifts.
COMING UP
The Lyon Arboretum holiday plant sale is tomorrow at Manoa Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The address is 3155 Manoa Road. Call 988-0464 for information and directions, or to volunteer. Proceeds support the arboretum.
Heidi Bornhorst is a sustainable-landscape consultant.
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