Virginia Tech Dendrology

Hawaii silversword Asteraceae Argyroxiphium sandwicense DC. symbol: ARSA5
Leaf: Fleshy and sword-like to 10 inches; entire surface covered in silver pubescence.
Flower: Purple-brown, with several hundred flower heads borne on a 6 foot stalk; appearing June to November.
Fruit: Each flower head develops into a single slender black achene to 3/8 inch long.
Bark: Obscured by dead leaves.
Form: A rounded/conical rosette of leaves under feet tall; when flowering it can bear a 6 foot flower stalk.

Additional Range Information: Argyroxiphium sandwicense is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information