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: VELVET TREE

Velvet Tree 

Miconia calvescens 

Melastome family (Melastomataceae) 

NATIVE RANGE 

South America 

DESCRIPTION 

Velvet tree is an evergreen tree that grows to about 50 feet in height when 

mature. Its large (up to 3 feet long), attractive leaves are dark green above and 

purple underneath, with three distinct veins that run roughly parallel from the 

base to the tip of the leaf. Flowering and fruiting begin after four to five years, 

when trees are about 12 feet tall, and can reoccur several times per year. 

Flowers are numerous, sweet-scented, white to pink in color, and very shortlived (12-24 hours after opening). The dark purple fruits are about one-half inch 

in diameter, sweet-tasting, and very attractive to birds. 

ECOLOGICAL THREAT 

Velvet tree stands create a dense canopy of shade that native plants cannot 

tolerate, but its own seedlings can. Masses of it ensure very little light reaches 

the ground. The shallow root system of velvet tree allows for increased soil 

erosion in previously more stable areas. 

DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES 

Velvet tree is found on four of the eight main islands of Hawaii (Oahu and 

Hawaii Islands, Maui, and Kauai). 

HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES 

The velvet tree occupies neotropical forests. It can be found as high as 6500 

feet in elevation but also threatens lower elevations that receive high average 

annual rainfall of 6 to 7 feet or more. 

BACKGROUND 

The velvet tree was brought to Hawaii in 1960 as an ornamental plant. 

Although initially sold at nurseries for its appealing foliage, it was officially named a Hawaii State Noxious Weed in 1992. 

BIOLOGY & SPREAD 

After four or five years of age, velvet trees can flower and produce seed, which remains viable 

in soil for five or more years. Each velvet tree plant can produce an estimated three million 

seeds, several times each year, creating a massive soil seed bank. Birds are the primary 

vectors for dispersal of velvet tree seeds but, because the seeds stick to shoes, clothing, tires 

and other materials, humans also contribute to the spread of this noxious tree. 

MANAGEMENT OPTIONS 

To prevent human dispersal of the seeds, people working in infested areas should change 

clothes and shoes before departing and thoroughly wash all machinery and other potential 

dispersing agents. Uprooting young velvet trees (under about 10 feet in height) is an effective 

method of control. When larger trees are uprooted, adventitious rooting may occur but is 

unusual. 
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/

Velvet trees that are cut down require immediate application of an herbicide like triclopyr (e.g., Garlon® 4) to the cut 

stump surface to prevent regrowth. Professional aerial spraying of Garlon® 4 had a 70% success rate on fruiting velvet 

trees, but is costly and requires careful planning to prevent unintentional application to desirable native vegetation. 

Several methods of biological control are being investigated and include the potential use of several insects (e.g., 

lepidopteran larvae) and plant diseases (e.g., leaf spot caused by Cocostroma myconae and a canker disease). 

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=Miconia%20calvescens 

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

AUTHOR 

Andrea Wise and Robert E. Lyons, Horticulture Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 

Blacksburg, VA 

EDITOR

Jil M. Swearingen, National Park Service, Washington, DC 

PHOTOGRAPHS 

Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk Project, HI, http://www.hear.org 

REFERENCES 

Carr, Dr. Gerald. "Melastomataceae." http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/melastomat.htm. 

Hawaii Department of Agriculture. "The Search for Biological Control of Miconia calvescens." 

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/cw_smith/mc_control.htm. 

Loope, Lloyd L. "HNIS Report for Miconia calvescens." 29 March 1997. http://www.hear.org/hnis/reports/HNIS-MicCal.pdf. 

Mesureur, Germain. "Chapter 3: Plants threatened by some alien plant species." 3.2 Miconia calvescens. 

http://www.uel.ac.uk/pers/1192n/dgm4.htm. 

Nature Conservancy, The. "Miconia." October 1996. http://www.consci.tnc.org/library/pubs/dd/miconia.html. 

Swearingen, J. 2009. WeedUS Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States: Velvet Tree (Miconia 

calvescens). http://www.invasive.org/weedus/subject.html?sub=6021. 

Thomas, Philip. "Miconia calvescens, an invasive melastome." 27 August 1994. 

http://www.metla.fi/archive/forest/1994/08/msg00065.html. 

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

70874-4490 USA. 

University of Hawaii Botany Department. "Distribution Maps of Selected Alien Plants in Hawaii." 21 November 1997. 

http://www.hear.org/AlienSpeciesinHawaii/AlienPlantDistributionMapsBySpecies.htm#MicCal.