ʻŌhelo berry
Vaccinium reticulatum
The red berry of Pele, growing on lava above the tree line; jam and pies at Volcano.
Hardiness: zones 10 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 3 ft tall, 3 ft wide
Harvest: June to September
From: Hawaiʻi
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, wildlife.
Native to: Hawaiʻi & Pacific Islands. Hardy in zones 10 to 12.
The story
ʻŌhelo grows on the lava slopes of Kīlauea and Mauna Kea, where the first berries of the season were offered to Pele before anyone ate; Hawaiians gathered them for food and the Volcano district still makes pies and jam, though the nēnē goose depends on them too.
Planting
Full sun, well-drained volcanic or acid soil, and a cool, humid climate; a shrub to 3 feet. Plant a seedling or cutting; slow.
Growing
Keep moist with rainwater and mulch; it dislikes heat, lime and drought.
Harvest and use
Berries ripen red to yellow in summer; tart-sweet. Eat fresh or cook into jam and pie. Leave plenty for the birds.
What to watch for
Heat and alkaline soil.
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home