Hawaiian Trees With Small Blue Fruit

Turk's Turban

• Turk's turban (Clerodendrum indicum) is also called Turk's turban or tubeflower. This naturalized, ornamental perennial tree or shrub is native to China, India and Southeast Asia. In Hawaii, it is common along roadsides, preferring wet areas, according to Wildlife of Hawaii. Growing to heights between about 3 to 10 feet, Turk's turban exhibits large, tubular white to cream flowers, about 4 inches long. Following the flowers come clusters of round fruit that turn from green to dark blue as they ripen. The 5-point calyx at the base of the flowers turns red as the fruits ripen. Turk's turban is a member of the Verbenaceae family.

Blue Grape

• The blue grape tree (Myrciaria vexator) is native to the Americas. Its purple-blue fruits appear in the thousands during the spring or early fall. Eat them fresh, or use them in drinks. This tree attains heights of around 6 feet. Its relatively small size suits it to hedgerows and containers. The blue grape is also called "False Jaboticaba." Jaboticaba trees are members of the Myrtaceae or myrtle family. They are native to Brazil, and bear grapelike fruit.

Elaeocarpus Trees

• The blue marble tree (Elaeocarpus grandis) is one of many species within the Elaeocarpus genus in the Elaeocarpaceae or Rudraksh family. It grows in Hawaii, but is native to Australia. Its other common names include blue quandong, bracelet tree and blue fig. It is a rain forest tree, with dark green alternate leaves and white, bell-shaped flowers. In the summer, bright blue fruit with hard pits follow the flowers. As the tree's name suggests, these drupes look like brilliant blue marbles. The blue marble tree is fast growing and attains heights of over 100 feet. Native Australians fashioned necklaces from the fruit stones, according to the Flowers of India website.

  Besides Hawaii, rudraksha trees (commonly Elaeocarpus ganitrus) grow in India, Indonesia, China, Nepal, the Solomon Islands, the Mariana Islands, Guam and Papua New Guinea. The rudraksha is famous for its connection to the Hindu god Shiva. "Rudra" means "Shiva" and "aksha" means "eye." According to legend, the tree seeds are the tears of Lord Shiva who wept as he lamented the state of mankind. Elaeocarpus trees are generally drought tolerant, growing well in most climate conditions, from full sun to heavy shade.