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Hawaiian Flowers

When most people think of Hawaiian flowers, they think of the hibiscus flower that commonly comes threaded into necklaces that are called leis. There are many types of hibiscus plants in Hawaii, but it’s the Chinese hibiscus that is most commonly used and associated with Hawaii. While it does not grow naturally in Hawaii, there are many flower retailers that grow Chinese hibiscus because of its association with Hawaiian culture.

Some native Hawaiian flowers are the hibiscus arnottianus, which has a white flower and is very rare and on the endangered plant list. It has a sub-species called hibiscus immaculatus that is even rarer, only a handful are believed to exist in the wild. Hibiscus brakenridgei is a small shrub-like plant that has yellow flowers, it is the Hawaiian state flower, and although it is endangered in its natural habitat, it is a popular ornamental plant in Hawaiian yards and gardens.

Hibiscus plants come from the family malvaceae, which contains many other Hawaiian flowers that are similar to the hibiscus flower. Unfortunately, most of the native species are extinct or critically endangered, only growing in small areas. The cotton plant with bright yellow flowers, and the milo tree, with maroon and yellow flowers are the last two that are thriving, but even their future in natural habitats is in question.

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