One of the most common natives used in landscaping, akia are a popular choice thanks to their resiliency in different climates. This plant can tolerate hot direct sun well. It goes through lovely stages of flowering and seeding. The flowers are small clusters but bright yellow, and the berries turn an incredible orange/red color.

This plant was used for fishing. The leaves, bark, and roots would be mashed and mixed with bait. When a fish would eat the concoction, it would essentially stupefy them to make the fish easier to catch. Don’t eat the berries, they taste terrible, but they are not poisonous to humans or pets.

This plant requires very little management once it is happy. Just keep that bright sun going and water minimally. I have observed my akia go through phases where it will drop nearly all of it’s leaves and seem like it’s suddenly declining, but bounces back immediately.