Māmaki and Pulelehua

Māmaki (Pipturus albidus) is a medium size shrub that can grow to be a small tree. It is a member of the Nettle Family (Urticaceae). It grows from low to middle elevations on all of the main Hawaiian Islands except Ni‘ihau, and Kaho‘olawe. It’s an attractive and useful plant to have in your garden.

The māmaki flowers year round, and has mildly sweet raspberry-like fruits. The fruits were used as medicine for wounds, as a mild laxative, and to treat thrush. A drink made from leaves steeped in hot water is beneficial for digestion and liver function. It is said that an infusion made with fresh leaves is calming, and one using dried leaves is invigorating.

Pulelehua is the Hawaiian word for butterfly. The Māmaki is the host for the larvae of both of the only two endemic butterflies, the Pulelehua Kamehameha (Vanessa tameamea) and Koa butterfly (Udara blackburni). Planting mamaki in your garden is a wonderful way to attract these rare insects. Be careful not to spray pesticides if you see the butterfly caterpillars munching on the leaves!