20 May 2005 Page 1 of 2 

Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/

FACT SHEET: FIRE TREE

Fire Tree 

Morella faya (Ait.) Wilbur (previously Myrica faya) 

Sweet Gale family (Myricaceae) 

NATIVE RANGE 

Azores, Madeira, and the Canary islands 

DESCRIPTION 

An evergreen shrub or small tree, usually 12-15 feet tall, fire tree can grow to 

50 feet in height in some areas. Stems of fire tree are covered with hairs and 

its leaves are 2-4 inches long, dark green, shiny, smooth, aromatic, and 

alternate along the stem. Male flowers have four stamens (pollen-bearing 

structures) and occur in small hanging clusters near the branch tip. Female 

flowers, also grouped in small hanging clusters, occur in threes, further from 

the branch tip. The prolific and edible fruits of fire tree are small and red to 

purple when ripe. 

ECOLOGICAL THREAT 

Fire tree poses a serious threat to native plants on young volcanic sites, 

lowland forests and shrublands, where it forms dense, single- species stands. 

On the island of Hawaii, fire tree forms a dense canopy with an understory 

devoid of other plant life. The roots of fire tree manufacture nitrogen, which 

allows it to invade recent, nutrient-poor volcanic sites much sooner than native plants. Invasion by fire tree on these sites 

prevents typical plant community succession from occurring. 

DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES 

Fire tree occurs on nearly all of the major Hawaiian islands (Maui, Hawaii, 

Kauai, Oahu, and Lanai). In the late 1980s, it covered more than 100,000 

acres in the Hawaiian islands and fire tree continues to expand throughout the 

islands. 

HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES 

Fire tree adapts to a wide range of habitats and soil types – from thin ash over 

lava to deep, well developed, silty-clay or loam soils. It occurs in recent 

volcanic cinder deposits and various types of native forest, and is most 

abundant on steep slopes, in seasonal montane forests, pastures, and 

roadsides. 

BACKGROUND 

Fire tree was originally brought to Hawaii by immigrants from Portugal in the 

late 1800s, most likely as an ornamental plant for its edible fruit, or for use as 

firewood. Portuguese laborers made wine from the fire tree fruit. In the early 

1900s, it was sometimes planted in reforestation projects on the islands of 

Kauai, Oahu and Hawaii. By 1937, the invasive nature of this species had 

been recognized, and the first attempts to eradicate fire tree took place in 

1944. 

BIOLOGY & SPREAD 

Fire tree propagates by seed which are produced in small fruits in June. The 

fruits are readily eaten by birds which carry the seeds into new areas, 

enhancing its spread. 
20 May 2005 Page 2 of 2 

Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/

MANAGEMENT OPTIONS 

Herbicide is the primary tool used for fire tree. Because exotic birds and feral pigs are important dispersal agents of fire 

tree seeds, these animals should be controlled to limit further spread. Although no host-specific biological control agent 

has been identified for control of fire tree, the two-spotted leafhopper (Sophonia rufostachia) has been reported to kill fire 

tree on the island of Hawaii. 

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: Always read the entire pesticide label carefully, follow all mixing and application instructions and wear all 

recommended personal protective gear and clothing. Contact your state department of agriculture for any additional pesticide use 

requirements, restrictions or recommendations. 

NOTICE: mention of pesticide products on this page does not constitute endorsement of any material.

OTHER LINKS 

• http://www.invasive.org/search/action.cfm?q=Morella%20faya 

• http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/morella_faya.htm

AUTHOR 

Nancy Benton, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA 

PHOTOGRAPH 

Forest & Kim Starr, US Geological Survey, HI 

REFERENCES 

Cronk, Q.C.B. and J. Fuller. 1995. Plant Invaders: The Threat to Natural Ecosystems. Chapman & Hall: London. World 

Wide Fund for Nature. 

Swearingen, J. 2009. WeedUS Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States: Fire Tree (Morella faya). 

http://www.invasive.org/weedus/subject.html?sub=6053. 

USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA. 

Vitousek, P.M., L.R. Walker, L.D. Whiteaker, D. Mueller-Dombois, and P.A. Matson. 1987. Biological invasion by Myrica 

faya alters ecosystem development in Hawaii. Science 238:802-804. 

Whiteaker, L.D. and D.E. Gardner. 1992. Fire tree (Myrica faya) distribution in Hawaii. In: Alien plant invasions in native 

ecosystems of Hawaii. Stone, C.P., C.W. Smith, and J.T. Tunison, eds. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, 

Hawaii.