'A'ali'i is a tree or shrub that can grow from 6-30 feet tall. It has dark brown bark and makes a hard and heavy wood. The leaves vary from spoon-shaped to lance-shaped. The flowers form in clusters and vary in colors from red-purple to yellow-green. and the fruit is the form of paper like capsules.

This plant will grow quickly in a lot of sunlight, it is usually one of the first plants to colonize new lava flows. Drought tolerant the water requirements are moderate to light, however it will shed it's leaves in extreme conditions.

Hawaiians used the 'a'ali'i in several ways. The hard wood was used for house posts and spears. The flowers and fruits were grounded and strained for use in medicine and also for dye. The flowers were used in lei making and are often found today in haku lei.