Tri-Color Hau Tree

TRI-COLOR HAU TREE
Hibiscus Tiliaceus

This is the unusual tri-colored variety of the Hawaiian Hau.
The heart-shaped leathery leaves colors are green, a creamy white, and rusty-red.
They tend to flower in spring and summer, blooming with lemon-yellow flowers that fade to apricot, then finally turn red all in one day.

Indigenous to Hawaii, the Hau tree is normally found in moist areas near the ocean.
Hau has a history as a very useful plant.
The bark fibers of the hau were used by Polynesians to make strong ropes, net bags, tapa, shark nooses and sandals.
The trunks were used to make canoes, weapons, tools, fishing gear, games, strainers, and for rituals, ceremonies and healing.
Flowers of the tree were used for medicine.
They were eaten to cure dry throat.
Sap taken from the tree was used as a laxative, and was also used to reduce pain on a woman in labor.

Hau is very adaptable to pot culture.
It can easily be grown in a large pot and pruned to an attractive shape.
Give it sandy well-drained soil that is kept moist over the summer months and let go drier over the winter.
It enjoys full sun, and is hardy down to about 40 degrees.
It should not be allowed to freeze.
All these pictures AND info comes from alohatrading,
a seller on EBay.
(I have not used this seller, and other than enjoying the info and great pictures, can not recommend them)
I just bought one of these at a plant nursery ($10 for a FIVE gallon pot (insert BIG smile)).
Mine looks tattered, and I will be cutting it back, then posting pictures of it later.
I'm VERY excited.

I'm VERY pleased to rejoin MsGreen"thumb" Jean for Blooming Tuesday.
She had taken a break, and I must admit I was going through withdraw.
Bloom withdraw is NOT a pretty thing to go through. (just as my hubby:)

Have a great Tuesday!!
And thank you Jean for hosting us:)