New Life in the New Year

The New Year is here, and the pressure is on to keep with our newfound resolutions! Year after year, we focus on what we will change about ourselves. What we can do to be happier and healthier this year. Some are better at keeping with their resolutions than others, but more likely than not, come February, we can’t even remember what our resolutions were.

So this year, we’re trying to focus on what can last not just the year, but years to come. Planting a tree in the New Year is an amazing gift to yourself, your family, and your environment. To watch a tree grow year after year and develop into something beautiful is priceless. And it can be a tradition to look forward to! Plant a tree in the New Year as a symbol of a milestone or remembrance. Maybe plant a tree every year a baby is born into the family! Or to remember a loved one who passed on in the year. Or as a symbol of a union between two people. Finding a reason to plant a tree is easy! It’s picking out which tree that’s the hard part. So let’s explore the options.

Large Trees

Kukui Nut Tree

Hawaii state tree
Beautiful silver/green leaves
Can grow over 90 feet!
Fast-growing
Often has twisted trunks and branches
Striking form in the landscape

Gold Tree

Grows up to 100 feet
Produces large seed pods
Fast grower
Tree drops all its leaves in late winter/early spring
Produces yellow flowers throughout the entire canopy

Jacaranda

Can grow over 60 feet
Huge purple flower clusters last up to 2 months
Stunning tree with slender branches and huge flowers

Monkeypod

Amazing tree that can grow up to 5 feet per year!
Reaches up to 80 feet
Loves rainy season, will put out more leaves making it fuller
Come spring, the tree produces colorful fluffy flowers
Tree has a robust root system, helps prevent erosion
The canopy extends far, creating a massive crown
Great shade tree for a sunny landscape

Ylang Ylang

Grows up to 60 feet
Flowers are a beautiful yellow-chartreuse color once mature
Takes 3-4 years to bloom
Flowers are known for their lovely fragrance
Branches can be weaker, not very wind tolerant

**Puakenikeni** Flower, Used in Lei Making

Tonga Tabu

Beautiful tall tree that can reach up to 40 feet
Broad leaves that create a desirable canopy
Produces large mango-like fruit that are extremely toxic

Puakenikeni

Can reach over 50 feet tall in ideal conditions
Fast-growing
Beautiful orange and white flowers
Often used for lei making
Can also be grown as a shrub
Prefers full sun

Small Trees

Lignum Vitae

Slow-growing small tree
Extremely wind tolerant due to dense wood
Beautiful purple flowers

Tulipwood Tree

Medium-sized tree with round, upright crown
Produces beautiful ornamental fruit
It is drought tolerant once established
Low-maintenance tree with unobtrusive roots

Geiger Tree

Salt and wind tolerant
Beautiful orange flowers
Grows 15-20 feet
Prefers full to part sun
Drought tolerant once established

Variegated False Lime

Salt and wind tolerant
Small tree
Produces thousands of small flower buds

Silver Buttonwood

Salt and wind tolerant
Velvety soft leaves
Muted foliage provides great contrast to green landscape
Can be pruned and maintained as a hedge shrub
Grows up to 20 feet
Great for coastal landscapes

Specimen Plants

Angel Trumpet Tree

Ornamental tree growing 10-20 feet
Whimsical flowers make a statement
Flowers produce strong fragrance at night
Prefers moderate shade

Mickey Mouse plant

Slow-growing, semi-evergreen shrub
Flowers bloom in a cluster resembling Mickey Mouse
Grows 4-8 feet tall
Can tolerate full sun to part shade
Low-maintenance
Appreciates pruning after blooming to maintain its size and shape

Gardenia volkenzii

Small, relatively slow-growing tree, ideal as a focus plant
Beautiful big white flower with lovely scent
Prefers open space to grow and can tolerate full-sun
Can be pruned into a tree
Has a large crown that can make it easy to use as a topiary

Japanese Fern tree

Beautiful specimen tree that acts as small shade tree
Stunning in the landscape

Puffball tree

Comes in a variety of colors
Shrub that can be trained to grow like a tree
The fun blooms are beautiful and pollinator-friendly!
Grows fast and can get up to 15 feet tall
Loves full sun