Like many other ‘akoko, Euphorbia kuwaleana produces small specialized inflorescences that have tiny reduced (i.e., no petals or sepals) male and female flowers that sit atop a cup-like base called a cyathium. Each cyathium has one central female flower (with a branched stigma) surrounded by one to several male flowers. If pollinated, the female flower's ovary enlarges to form a fruit capsule that hangs to the side of the cyathium. The leaves of E. kuwaleana can vary a bit in shape from nearly round to distinctly elliptic. Perhaps because of its slow growth and frequent leaf loss (due to drought), E. kuwaleana often has prominent stem joints and leaf scars (Photograph courtesy of Joel Lau ©; header photograph courtesy of Cory Campora CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.). Potted E. kuwaleana grow slower than potted E. skottsbergii var. skottsbergii as you can see here with an E. skottsbergii var. skottsbergii (left) and E. kuwaleana (right) of the same age (8 months) grown under identical indoor conditions. This larger potted E. kuwaleana is about two years old and just beginning to produce flowers. A wild E. kuwaleana, about two feet (61 cm) tall and wide, growing on a rocky ridgetop. 

Growth Requirements

General

    I (Koebele) have only grown this ‘akoko species a couple of times and then only in a pot. Therefore, I can only guess where to best place it in a landscape. Based on its slow growth and the fact that the few remaining wild plants grow on dry leeward Wai‘anae cliffs and ridges in very rocky soil, I would recommend using this ‘akoko as an accent in a sunny xeriscape or rock garden. 

    Wild Euphorbia kuwaleana seem to always be pretty much out in the open, exposed to full sunlight for all or most of the day. However, my potted plants grew just fine outside under 50% shadecloth as well as inside under LED lamps. Similarly, wild E. kuwaleana grow in rather dry places and are frequently exposed to drought. Yet, I watered my potted ‘akoko once every day or so and they did just fine. These observations suggest that E. kuwaleana can be grown under a wide range of light and moisture conditions. 

    Wild Euphorbia kuwaleana grow in rocky places with excellent water drainage. Therefore, I have always tried to mimic this substrate, growing my potted ‘akoko in either 100% black cinders or a perlite-rich (33%-plus) media mixed with vermiculite and sphagnum peat moss. Their growth is slower than some other native Euphorbia species (see photograph above), perhaps, best matching the growth rate of E. degeneri. Like E. skottsbergii var. skottsbergii, potted E. kuwaleana require regular fertilization to sustain their growth and prevent their leaves from yellowing and dropping prematurely. For my plants, I have either used a balanced controlled-released granular fertilizer every six months, or a "feeds-every-time-you-water" (10-15-10) liquid concentrate (see The Magic of LEDs).

    My best guess right now is Euphorbia kuwaleana has a maximum lifespan of about ten years — but this really is just a guess based on other similar Hawaiian Euphorbia species. Therefore, be certain to collect and store (in your refrigerator) some seeds early so you don’t get caught without replacement material. This ‘akoko is easy to grow from seed. Refer to the Native Hawaiian Garden website for details on how to collect, store, and propagate ‘akoko seeds. 

Pests and Diseases

    Euphorbia kuwaleana are occasionally attacked by scale insects and spider mites. Refer to the Pests & Diseases page for ways to deal with each of these pests. Another ʻakoko pest I have encountered for other ‘akoko species I have planted outside is the giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica), which will come out of its hiding place at night and girdle the stems or eat the leaves of ‘akoko; girdled stems eventually die. If this happens, and your ‘akoko is in a pot, try to solve the problem by moving it to a safer location. Also, closely inspect the container to make sure the snail(s) are not living inside. Refer to the Pests & Diseases page for other ways to deal with snails. 

Special Features and Information

General

    Euphorbiaceae is a large family with about 7,500 species within 300 genera, found on all the continents except Antarctica, with the greatest diversity in the tropics. Some well-known non-native relatives of ʻakoko are the Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis), kukui (Aleurites moluccana), poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), cassava (Manihot esculenta), and the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) from which we get latex [WikipediA;Euphorbiaceae].

   There are currently (2026) 17 native species of Euphorbia in Hawai‘i — all endemic to the Islands. Several species are either vulnerable, rare, or endangered, and two varieties are considered to be extinct [Flora of the Hawaiian Islands]. They range in stature from very prostrate shrubs like Euphorbia degeneri to tall trees like Euphorbia haeleeleana and Euphorbia olowaluana [Wagner et al. 1990]. 

    While not all the native Hawaiian Euphorbia species have been thoroughly investigated, a study by Pearcy & Troughton [1975] of 12 species (that did not include E. kuwaleana) found that they all appear to utilize C4 photosynthesis, an adaptation that enables greater water-use efficiency and improved growth in hot, dry environments when compared to the more common C3 photosynthesis seen in most plants. While most C4 plants are grasses or herbs, the native Hawaiian Euphorbia are among the few examples of woody plants — specifically trees like E. olowaluana — that possess the C4 photosynthetic pathway, which usually involves a specialized anatomy (i.e., Kranz) that can be challenging for tree growth.

    In addition to the many endemic Euphorbia species, the only other member of Euphorbiaceae native to Hawai‘i is the endemic poʻolā (Claoxylon sandwicense) [Flora of the Hawaiian Islands]. 

Hawaiian Name

    ʻAkoko comes from the Hawaiian word for blood, koko. This is likely a reference to the red, or blood-colored, seed capsules that look like drops of blood on many Hawaiian Euphorbia species [Krauss 1993, Neal 1965]. Alternatively, some believe the name comes from the observation that ‘akoko leaves, when damaged, often turn red, giving the appearance that the plant bleeds when it is injured.

Etymology

    Euphorbia is named after Euphorbos, a Greek physician of King Juba II of Numidia and Mauretania (52–50 BC – 23 AD), who married the daughter of Anthony and Cleopatra [WikipediA; Euphorbia], and used the sap of a spurge for medicinal purposes [Gledhill 2008].

    The former genus name, Chamaesyce, is derived from the ancient Greek words, χαμαί (khamaí), meaning “near the ground,” and συκῆ (sukê), meaning "fig-tree," perhaps referring to the low habit of most species and the fig-like appearance of the fruit capsules [Wiktionary;Chamaesyce].

    The species name, kuwaleana, is a Latinized geographic reference to a ridge in Wai‘anae, O‘ahu, where this species is found, and means "standing alone" [Ulukau; Parker 1922].