Touchardia latifolia aka Olona

Touchardia latifolia, known as olona, is a shrub from Hawaii. It is part of Urticaceae, the nettle family. It grows on the main Hawaiian islands except Ni‘ihau and Kaho‘olawe. It lives in damp valleys, wet forests, and deep ravines. Wild plants grow at 230–3,940 feet [70–1,200 metres] above sea level. These sites have a wet tropical climate.

Olona grows at a slow pace. It reaches about 3–10 feet [1–3 metres] tall. Both plant databases also give a height of 6.6 feet [2 metres]. Its thick stems have bark that strips off with ease. Leaves grow in turn along the stems, rather than in pairs. Some are narrow and lanceolate, or shaped like a lance. Others are broad and elliptic, or oval. The male flowers are white. The supplied account also links orange, berry-like achenes with female flowers. Achenes are a type of dry fruit.

This shrub suits damp soil in a shaded wood. It grows in deep shade and takes part shade too. The sources favour dense woods with little cleared space around plants. It can grow in sand, loam, or clay. The soil must drain well. It can be slightly acid to slightly alkaline. The shrub prefers moist to wet ground. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 10–12. Older growing accounts favour heights of 980–4,920 feet [300–1,500 metres] above sea level.

The bark yields a light, strong fibre that resists water. In Hawaii, people use it for fishing lines and nets. They also make feather capes, helmets, and rain capes with it. Other uses include musical instruments, weapons, and fine cloth. Basket makers blend it with fibre from Freycinetia arborea for twined baskets. Harvest accounts say to cut stems just over a year old. Workers strip the bark, then scrape off the unwanted pulp. These fibre uses give the shrub worth beyond its woodland form.

The sources list seeds and cuttings as ways to grow new plants. One account warns that roots break with ease, making plants hard to move. The sources name no specific pests or diseases. Neither database lists food or medicinal uses for this plant. Both report no known hazards. This does not mean it is safe to eat or safe for pets. Plants For A Future lists no weed potential. The recorded garden needs centre on shade, warmth, and soil that stays moist.