Hibiscus waimeae  subsp. waimeae

Family:  Malvaceae

Native to Kauai, this hibiscus is commonly found in Waimea Canyon, and in the moist forests of the western and northern coasts of that island at 800’ to 3900’ elevation.  This hibiscus has fairly large white pinwheel shaped flowers that have a sweet fragrance.  The staminal column is light green to magenta with magenta filaments.  Leaves are ovate shaped and have tiny hairs on both sides. In cultivation the flowers bloom almost continuously and are born towards the ends of branches.  Like all hibiscus, the flowers last only for a day.  These bloom white in the morning, and turn pink as they fade in the afternoon. It prefers filtered shade in moist but well drained soils, but can survive in full sun with care.  This shrub may grow into a 24’- 30’ evergreen tree. 

Native White Hibiscus;  Koki`o kea

Hibiscus arnottianus   subsp. punaluuensis

 Family:  Malvaceae

This is a photo of a plant at the zoo native to the Big Island, and is similar to the better known O`ahu native that has 4”-10” leaves.  This evergreen plants’ oval shaped leaves have a smooth upper surface with blunt toothed edges, red veins and stems.  The fragrant large white flowers have slightly ruffled edges, and a pink to red staminal column with red filaments.  Prefers filtered shade in moist well drained soils but will tolerate full sun and drier conditions. This evergreen may grow into a 30’ tree but is usually a 15’-20’ shrub with a similar diameter.

Pua Aloalo; Ma`o hau hele

Hibiscus brackenridgei  

subsp. brackenridgei

This endangered species was designated as the Hawaii State flower in 1988.  It is a shrubby type of plant found in drier areas on all the main islands except Ni`ihau and Ka-ho`olawe.  Although flower color is the most obvious distinction in these hibiscus species, notice the equally distinct differences in leaf shape. These leaves are palmate and look like maple leaves, with tiny hairs on both sides.

There are two subspecies: brackenridgei  is native to the Big Island, Maui, Molokai and Lanai with yellow leaf veins and no spines on branches;  mokuleianus  is native to O`ahu and Kauai with tiny spines on the branches and leaves with pink veins.  They do well in full sun and are drought tolerant.  The bright yellow flowers bloom on a flowering stalk that rises above the plant.  It is a fast grower and may bloom semi-annually for about 2 months.  The plants at the zoo are native to the Big Island.

 Hibiscus kokio

This hibiscus is native to the wet forests of O`ahu, Kauai and the Big Island.  It was designated as the Hawaii State flower in 1923 and remained so until 1988 when it was replaced by the native yellow.  The oval leaf has rounded tooth edges and a waxy surface.  The 3"- 4” red flower is pinwheel shaped with a red staminal column and red filaments that contrast with the yellow pollen.   This flower was used by Hawaiians to make a light red dye.  It will bloom best if planted in full sun.  The plants at the zoo are native to the Big Island.