This coastal tree is Haiti-Haiti, Thespesia populnea. It is also known as Portia Tree, Seaside Mahoe, Milo and Pacific Rosewood. It belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae, along with hibiscus, cotton, cacao and Baobab.

Despite being familiar in the Caribbean, the species is generally considered native to tropical coastlines extending from eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean through southern Asia and into the Pacific. People have carried and planted it widely in other warm coastal regions.

Haiti-Haiti usually grows as a small to medium-sized tree with a short trunk and a broad, rounded crown. Its dense foliage and spreading branches can provide welcome shade.

The leaves are glossy, heart-shaped and pointed at the tip. They resemble those of some hibiscus plants, which is not surprising because the two belong to the same family.

The flowers are large and bell-shaped, usually opening pale yellow with a dark maroon or reddish center. As each flower ages, it changes to orange, pink or deep reddish purple before falling. A tree may therefore display flowers of several colors at the same time.

After flowering, the tree produces rounded, flattened seed capsules. They begin green and become brown or nearly black as they mature. The hard capsules may remain attached to the branches for a considerable time.

The seeds can tolerate saltwater and may be dispersed by ocean currents. Together with the tree’s resistance to salt spray, wind, strong sunlight and sandy soil, this makes Haiti-Haiti particularly well adapted to tropical shorelines.

The wood is one of the tree’s most valued features. Its heartwood ranges from reddish brown to dark chocolate, takes a fine polish and has traditionally been used for bowls, carvings, furniture, cabinetry and boatbuilding. The fibrous bark has also been used to make cordage.

In several Pacific cultures, the tree has held ceremonial importance and was sometimes planted near sacred or important places. Its wood remains highly valued by carvers and craftspeople.

Haiti-Haiti is therefore both an attractive flowering tree and a useful coastal species. Its heart-shaped leaves, color-changing hibiscus-like flowers and persistent dark capsules make it fairly easy to recognize.

When it is flowering, the best feature to point out is the sequence of colors: a pale yellow flower opens in the morning and gradually deepens toward red as it grows older.