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Alternate Name(s)
Crown Flower, Giant Milkweed
Scientific Name
Calotropis gigantea
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Family
Apocynaceae
Genus
Calotropis
Status in Hawaii
Naturalized
Native Region
Asia, Tropical Africa
Cultural Significance
Pua Kalaunu (Calotropis gigantea) has long been valued in its native regions of South and Southeast Asia for its extensive medicinal uses—treating skin diseases, digestive disorders, respiratory ailments, rheumatism, fevers, and more through preparations of its roots, bark, latex, leaves, and flowers—and for practical purposes such as producing bark fiber, seed floss, mulch, green manure, hedges, and even materials for leather processing and fireworks. In many of these regions, its durable flowers also hold cultural importance in temple offerings and ceremonial arrangements. In Hawaiʻi, this cultural role continues: its long-lasting blossoms are commonly used in floral decorations and religious or ceremonial displays, and the plant is widely cultivated as an ornamental. These hardy flowers, also often used in Hawaiian leis, were said to be among the favorite blooms of Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaiʻi.
Sources
Bufford, J. L., & Daehler, C. C. (2014). Sterility and lack of pollinator services explain reproductive failure in non-invasive ornamental plants. Diversity and Distributions, 20(8), 975-985
Calotropis gigantea - Plant Finder. (2025). Missouribotanicalgarden.org. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=276827
Calotropis gigantea | Plant Pono. (2018, December 5). Plant Pono. https://plantpono.org/hpwra/calotropis-gigantea/
Calotropis gigantea. (2025). Prota4u.org. https://prota.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?g=pe&p=Calotropis+gigantea
Littlewood, V. (2008, April 29). Leaf of the Day: Crown Flower – Pencil and Leaf. Valerielittlewood.uk. https://pencilandleaf.valerielittlewood.uk/2008/04/leaf-of-day-crown-flower.html
Collection Date
Fall 9-20-2025
Collection Number
BYUH_25_4
Recommended Citation
Gamba, Clariza Mae Anoc, "Pua Kalaunu" (2025). Herbarium Collection. 3.
https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/herbarium/3