Pua 'olena comes up on a separate flowering stalk while its leaves grow on their own stalk. The flowers are yellow and are surrounded by bracts that are a clean green and white color. You can cut the flower and present it in a vase, but it will last longer if it is left on the plant. The long leaves with vertical veins have a nice fragrance and we've used them as wrappers for steaming fish and other tasty treats. The leaves are also nice for hostess gift presentation bundles (pu'olo). They are pretty and flexible and impart a nice aroma to what's inside the package.

The other prized part of 'olena is the underground rhizome or root. It is golden orange inside and is 'ono in cooking. It also has medicinal and ceremonial uses. The root produces a gorgeous natural dye for kapa (or, nowadays muslin, cotton and so on). Scientists know the old-fashioned 'olena as Curcuma domestica or C. longa.

It has been carried around the world by people who admire, grow and use it, and is native now from Polynesia to India. This prized plant is believed to have been carried here and nurtured on the long voyage across the Pacific Ocean in sailing canoes.

There are many other species of Curcuma that grow in the tropics and subtropics. Some have pretty flowers in other colors.

There is a very nice lavender one from Australia that Ken and Liza Vinzant of Olomana Tropicals have been growing to share with interested gardeners. Check them out at the Foster Garden plant sale happening tomorrow.

Q. When do you prune back poinsettias? I know there is some kind of easy-to-remember rule on this, but I forget.

— Monica D., Pauoa

A. You prune poinsettias back in the "A" months — April and August. You don't have to prune them if they are not growing vigorously. You prune them back to shape them, to control them if they are growing too rampantly, to remove dead or diseased branches and to stimulate new growth and winter blooming.

The days are getting shorter, and it won't be long before the weather and the surf both start to turn to different shores. Some blooms will slow down and wind down for winter rest and even dormancy. 'Olena and 'awapuhi (ginger) go dormant, plumerias and rainbow showers stop blooming and most plumeria drop their leaves.

Fall is a busy time of year in the garden, a time for raking and pruning and planting. It's time to fertilize the poinsettias (or place your order with a good nursery). This will grow you some new blooms in time for Christmas.