January 16, 2017
Hawaii State Flower - Hibiscus
Botanical Name
Hibiscus brackenridgei
Year Adopted
1988
Peak Bloom
May to July
History
In Hawaiian culture, Hibiscus is a symbol of old royalty & communicates power and respect. It’s commonly given to visitors, state officials, & tourists.
Fun Fact
Hawaii has a flower to represent each island but the most popular and official State flower is the Hibiscus flower.
Originally the Hibiscus, in all colors and varieties, was the official territorial flower of the Hawaiian Islands, adopted in the early 1920s. Near statehood in 1959, the first State Legislature adopted many of Hawaii’s symbols as part of the Hawaii Revised Statutes; however, it wasn’t until 1988 that the yellow Hibiscus, native to the Hawaiian Islands, was elected as the State flower of Hawaii. For this reason, you’ll see older photos with the red Hibiscus, or any other color for that matter, as the state flower.
The Hibiscus, found from Honolulu to Waikiki, is an ornamental flowering plant most commonly found in warm climates, especially tropical and subtropical regions. It’s a popular landscaping shrub among gardeners, and used in many cultures for various purposes including herbal tea, hair products, and even paper making! The brazen flower of the Hibiscus is synonymous with “delicate beauty” making it a popular gift throughout the world.
There is one point of contention with this beautiful state flower. Many locals argue that different flowers, (and colors) are used to represent different islands. So a Paradise Park local may differ about the State flower with a Waimea local. Many islands wish they were their own states, so they made up a few rules of their own in the 1950’s.
Growing Information
Soil
Damp
Sun
Full Sun
Zones
9 - 11