‘Ulu Varieties – Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative

Interested in planting ‘ulu and looking for trees?

Grow you own! Learn more about ‘Ulu Propagation Techniques

If you are on Hawai’i Island, you can order directly from us! Here are the varieties we offer:

ʻUlu Maoli (“Hawaiian”) – 1 to 3 feet tall, adventitious shoot / air layered at $35 each

Maʻopo – 1 to 3 feet tall, adventitious shoot / air layered at $35 each

Otea – 1 to 2 feet tall, tissue cultured at $25 each

Bulk orders of 10 or more will receive a 10% discount except for Otea variety trees. All order form submissions will add you to our waitlist and we will notify you as soon as your trees are ready for pick up.

Pick up day, time & location will be coordinated when we email you your invoice. Pick up locations are at HUC facilities in Kona & Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island. Sorry! We do not ship trees off Hawai‘i Island at this time.

Breadfruit Varieties in Hawai‘i

Although some 200 varieties of ‘ulu have been identified growing in tropical environments around the world, there are several that are most prominent in Hawai‘i today:

Hawaiian ‘Ulu

The original variety brought to Hawai‘i (known as ‘Ulu Maori in other parts of Oceania), Hawaiian ‘ulu is seedless, dense, and firm with a starchy texture, making it ideal for fries, chips, and au gratin dishes, or for cooking the traditional way: roasted right in the fire!

Ma‘afala

This Samoan variety is smaller and less dense than its Hawaiian cousin, resulting in a lighter option that’s ideal for mashes, patties, and blended dishes. Thanks to the work of the Breadfruit Institute and Global Breadfruit, ma‘afala seedlings are now propagated through tissue culturing and available commercially. This has made it the second most common breadfruit variety in Hawai‘i today, with a portion of tree sales going back to its country of origin. Check out the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s Maʻafala Factsheet to learn more about this variety.

Pu‘ou

This Samoan and Tongan variety is large and round, with a light texture similar to ma‘afala. The segments on its skin are slightly raised and a neck or “collar” is usually found around the stem.

‘Ulu Fiti

Also available through the work of the Breadfruit Institute and Global Breadfruit, this Fijian variety is seeded, tender, and moist when mature, with a tasty sweetness when ripe. A favorite of local food processor John Cadman of Pono Pies! Check out the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s Ulu Fiti Factsheet to learn more about this variety.

Lipet

This general category of breadfruit trees is originally from Micronesia; fruits are very large and spiky, with an extremely light, fluffy texture.

Otea

Originally from French Polynesia, this variety is round and firm with a similar taste and texture to Hawaiian ‘ulu. Seedlings can also be accessed through Global Breadfruit, with proceeds going back to the country of origin. Check out the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s Otea Factsheet to learn more about this variety.

Maopo

This common variety is easily recognized by its leaves which, compared to other common varieties, are much less segmented.