Ohia Trees...

[Mitzi M]

The ohias on a 1956 lava flow near me are about 4"-6" in diameter and some are up to about 20+' tall. I think their rate of growth is really influenced by the amount of rain, soil and nutrients they get. I've seen folks plant them in prepared soil, water and feed them for the first year or so, and get some fast, healthy growth. My friend who is a botanist here tells me that good ohia air layers just shoot up when they're planted in decent soil. I'm convinced that even though the tortured ones that somehow manage to get by on bare lava grow slowly, the pampered ones will grow much faster.

Mitzi

Uluhe Design
Restoration Based Landscape Design for Hawai'i
uluhedesign@yahoo.com