Can You Make a Lei Out of Shower Tree Blossoms? My Petal Experiment.

If you spend any time walking around Hawaiʻi, you’ve probably seen the shower trees dripping with color, clouds of yellow, pink, and white blossoms falling like confetti on the sidewalk. I've always wondered if it was possible to make a lei out of the delicate scented petals.

Recently, I finally decided to stop wondering and start experimenting. I was at a volunteer event, helping with the Ala Kahakai Trail Association booth, and noticed that the shower trees were in full bloom, so I filled a 2-gallon ziplock bag of tree petals and turned them into a lei, documenting the whole adventure on Instagram at @leilupea. There were lots of bugs, the petals were extremely delicate, but it turned out surprisingly beautiful.

Why shower tree blossoms?

Shower trees have such a romantic, whimsical feel, like someone shook a bouquet above your head and forgot to stop. The petals themselves are delicate and thin, but the colors are an incredible mix of pastels.

Unlike sturdier flowers we usually sew in the kui style (plumeria, rose, carnations) shower tree blossoms aren’t known as a practical lei flower because they bruise and wilt quickly. That made this experiment more about curiosity and art than durability: I wanted to see what was possible, even if the lei only lasted a short moment.

Gathering and preparing the petals

For this experiment, I started by collecting the long drooping stems of blossoms from a light yellow shower tree, choosing stems that were a mix of buds and fully opened flowers. I avoided anything too damaged or brown, because the lei needed at least a little structure to hold its shape.

Back at my workspace, I shook each stem lightly and gave them a quick dunk in water to remove any lingering bugs. This step did not fully get rid of all the bugs, as there were still some ants remaining. Next, I picked each flower (and buds) of the stem and separated the petals. I wanted to avoid overhandling them since they are so delicate and will wilt quickly.

The experiment

I decided to use the kui method (with very thin raffia). I found creating a "stack" of petals and piercing them through the center worked best when sewing the lei. This way they were less likely to tear or rip. It was very time consuming and I ended up not having enough petals for a regular sized lei. In the future, I estimate I need at least 2 full 2-gallon ziplock bags of stems with flowers.

Freshly sewn shower tree petal lei, using the kui method.

What worked…and what didn’t

This shower tree lei was definitely an experiment, and it taught me a lot:

What worked:

• The color payoff was dreamy; soft, ethereal, and very different from heavier flower lei (the texture and color reminded me of a yellow ginger lei).

• The scent was amazing; distinctive and light. It would make a gorgeous special occasion lei.

• The process itself felt meditative and creative, a reminder that lei making can be playful and exploratory.

What didn’t:

• The petals were fragile and didn’t hold up like sturdier flowers; this is not an all‑day lei.

• Handling and sewing had to be extremely gentle to avoid tearing.

• It takes A LOT of petals for a single lei.

• It’s a lei best appreciated immediately after it’s made.

• However, I did an experiment and stored it overnight in the fridge (wrapped in paper towels and placed in a ziplock hydration chamber). The lei did wilt a little bit, but I was surprised that there was no browning. It did not look as nice as the day before, but I think if a darker color of petal was used (like the hot pink or even red), it wouldn't show the wilting as much.

Day old shower tree petal lei. Wilted, but still decent looking.

How I’d refine this experiment next time

Like any good creative experiment, this shower tree lei left me with ideas for next time:

• Trying a different color, like pink or red

• Combining shower tree petals with more of the almost opened buds, they were sturdy and the bit of green on the leaves works really nicely with the pastel colors of the petal.

• Designing it specifically as a short‑term, wear that day lei; something meant for a photoshoot or a special moment. Due to the delicate nature of the petals, I think exposure to heat and movement will make it wilt and bruise quickly. It is not long lasting!

I love that lei making leaves room for this kind of curiosity and I can't wait to make the next shower tree lei even better.

See the shower tree lei in action

If you want to see the actual lei and how the petals behaved over time, I shared the process and the results on my Instagram: @leilupea. You’ll find close‑ups of the petal texture, the way the colors blend, and a peek at what it looked like the next day.

If you’ve ever looked at a flower and wondered, “Could this become a lei?” Consider this your invitation to try. Gather a few blossoms, keep your expectations flexible, and let the experiment teach you something new about your own creative style.