This particular tree was long forgotten under a nursery table, grow bag all tattered, barely any soil left in it. I normally would have chucked something like that onto the compost pile, but it still had vitality in it.
The Basics
Milo, Thespesia populnea, is a native Hawaiian hardwood tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae.
Origin and Habitat
Native and naturalized throughout Hawaii and the Pacific, typically found in coastal areas.
What It Looks Like
A hardy tree with heart-shaped leaves and yellow hibiscus-like flowers that fade to a dull red.
Uses and Flavor
Not a food tree. The wood is a prized native hardwood, traditionally carved into bowls and other implements.
Growing It Here
This particular tree was a rescue — long forgotten under a nursery table, grow bag tattered, barely any soil left in it. I planted it in a windy spot where I was trying to establish something rather than composting it. We’ll see if it makes it.
Pests and Diseases to Watch For
Nothing to report yet, though it’s still recovering from a rough start.
Kenta’s Take
Giving a half-dead tree one more shot in a tough spot instead of the compost pile feels like exactly the kind of gamble this whole project is built on.