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Hawaii's Most Invasive Horticultural Plants |
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![]() (Photo credit: Lani Stemmermann) |
Other names: | Melastoma malabathricum, Malabar melastome |
Description: | Erect shrub or tree up to 16' tall with 1.5-4.5" elliptic leaves and clusters of 2 to 7 1" 5-petaled pink flowers. |
Risk areas: | Moist and wet areas, bog margins, up to 3000 ft. elevation. |
WARNING: | Indian rhododendron belongs to the Melastome Family, many members of which have proven invasive in Hawaii and elsewhere. All members of this family should probably be avoided in horticulture. |