Dodonaea viscosa

Aalii (Dodonaea viscosa) is a wind and drought tolerant plant found from the dry coastal lowlands to the wet forests of the Hawaiian Islands. The fruit capsules and leaves are popular in lei making and are also used to make red dye for kapa cloth.

In addition to being drought tolerant, Aalii can also be used for erosion control. Its deep tap roots act as stabilizers and the plant requires very little care once established. The species typically displays as a dense shrub (4-8 ft.) but can be pruned into a small tree, topiary or hedge and is very forgiving of pruning errors.

The fruit capsules and leaves are popular in lei making and are also used to make red dye for kapa cloth. Colorful seed capsules used for lei making are from the female flowering plants (dioecious) and vary in color from cream all the way to dark red.

coastal dunes, lava fields, and mesic forests of the Hawaiian Islands

We currently have 126 herbarium specimens for Dodonaea viscosa in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

037423 - collected by C. N. Forbes in 1909
037427 - collected by J. F. Rock in 1916
037414 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1933
023857 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1946
023836 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1946
023835 - collected by D. Anderson in 1949
037425 - collected by Otto Degener in 1950
037424 - collected by Alvin K. Chock in 1953
037428 - collected by Otto Degener in 1960
023859 - collected by Michael Evans in 1966
036655 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1968
037422 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1968
037412 - collected by Otto Degener in 1969
020216 - collected by W. L. Stern in 1971
020218 - collected by W. L. Stern in 1971
081716 - collected by J. Raynal in 1973
032808 - collected by Keith Woolliams in 1973
073662 - collected by Art Whistler in 1974
020217 - collected by John J. Fay in 1974
020221 - collected by Steven P. Darwin in 1975
020215 - collected by Steven P. Darwin in 1975
020208 - collected by Steven P. Darwin in 1975
020209 - collected by Steven P. Darwin in 1975
020210 - collected by Steven P. Darwin in 1975
096127 - collected by J. D. Jacobi in 1976
068207 - collected by Carolyn Corn in 1977
073661 - collected by Art Whistler in 1977
068206 - collected by Carolyn Corn in 1977
020213 - collected by Thomas B. Croat in 1978
020214 - collected by Thomas B. Croat in 1978
073663 - collected by Art Whistler in 1979
032807 - collected by Gordon McPherson in 1980
023163 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1981
023162 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1981
014210 - collected by David Palumbo in 1981
014211 - collected by David Palumbo in 1981
037426 - collected by Wayne Takeuchi in 1983
020207 - collected by T. G. Lammers in 1983
068208 - collected by Carolyn Corn in 1983
020219 - collected by T. G. Lammers in 1984
059365 - collected by Art Whistler in 1985
020206 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1985
023946 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1985
059366 - collected by Art Whistler in 1986
020220 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
020212 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1988
020205 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1988
012187 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1988
009230 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1988
027189 - collected by Jacques Florence in 1988
027160 - collected by Jacques Florence in 1988
006651 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1988
008343 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1988
036959 - collected by Patti Welton in 1988
020211 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1989
001946 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1989
002807 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1990
016613 - collected by Jacques Florence in 1990
S047629 - collected by Heidi Bornhorst in 1990
014071 - collected by Patti Welton in 1991
036394 - collected by Patti Welton in 1991
012089 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
022081 - collected by Jacques Florence in 1992
014883 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1992
S047627 - collected by Heidi Bornhorst in 1993
036379 - collected by J. Regalado in 1993
036059 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1994
036058 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1995
021254 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1995
026315 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1997
026273 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1997
027943 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1998
S047809 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1998
043964 - collected by Art Whistler in 1998
Unassigned - collected by K. R. Wood in 2000
060637 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2000
060703 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2000
Unassigned - collected by K. R. Wood in 2000
060636 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2000
Unassigned - collected by K. R. Wood in 2000
045825 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2002
Unassigned - collected by Liloa Dunn in 2002
041276 - collected by Liloa Dunn in 2002
039547 - collected by Jon Price in 2003
039561 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2003
040560 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2003
039703 - collected by Nancy Vander Velde in 2003
051908 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2004
043359 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2004
042378 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2004
007606 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2004
059993 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2004
055127 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2005
044400 - collected by Nancy Vander Velde in 2006
047010 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2006
054134 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2007
048980 - collected by Clay Trauernicht in 2008
047451 - collected by Mary Merello in 2008
060436 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
060201 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
060316 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
060319 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
060202 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
060359 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
064321 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
063076 - collected by Nicole Shores in 2012
065587 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
065865 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
067933 - collected by Jesse Adams in 2013
066921 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2013
Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2013
093180 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
085147 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2015
Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2016
Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2016
Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2016
075989 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2016
075988 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2016
076331 - collected by Katherine Brainard in 2017
076329 - collected by Katherine Brainard in 2017
076320 - collected by Katherine Brainard in 2017
084791 - collected by Ben Nyberg in 2020
083424 - collected by Seana Walsh in 2020
092916 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2022
096018 - collected by Dustin Wolkis in 2024
095686 - collected by Dustin Wolkis in 2024

Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

Conservation Status

View A Different Resource

NTBG Programs At A Glance