Flowers are inconspicuous, in small clusters at branch tips or leaf axis. Fruit capsules have two or three wings, red, yellow, green or brown in color. Seeds tiny and hard. Leaves shiny green, alternate. Leaves short stemmed, narrow, blunt or pointed.
Wood is hard, yellow brown with dark heartwood.
A'ali'i is best propagated by soaking the tiny hard seeds in water for 24 hrs. A tough plant with a strong root system, very drought resistant. Can be used as a shrub, hedge, or tree in gardens. Seeds 2-4 per cell, about 5 mm long, densly covered with reddish brown lint. The fragrant hinahina is the official flower of Kaho'olawe.