Wiliwili is a dry tolerant tree that produces incredibly vibrant coral-colored flowers, which can vary between individuals. It goes through seasonal changes, dependent on water availability. In the wet seasons, the trunk will increase in size to store water and produce leaves. As water starts to wane, the tree will drop all its leaves and produce flowers instead. The seeds that follow are bright red, making this tree one of the most vivid of Hawaiian natives. The trunk stores water so well, it will visibly change in size as the conditions vary.

This tree produces a light-weight wood, and was the preferred wood for original surfboards. Also preferred for the outrigger piece of traditional canoes and the wooden floats of fishing nets. The name wiliwili translates to ‘twist-twist’, referring to the twisted seed pods that reveal the brightly-colored seeds. It was believed that when the wiliwili flowers, sharks are more likely to bite.

This plant prefers full sun, but also can easily overheat if it is young or not monitored. This is a drought tolerant plant that requires very little water once established. Be cognizant of pests that will impact its health. In 2005, this plant was almost lost due to introduced pests, a gall wasp that killed nearly all the old, stately wiliwili trees. A biocontrol was released, a parasitic wasp, that uses specifically the larvae from this species of gall wasp as a host for their eggs and offspring.