In the Garden
Koki‘o kea
HUI KU MAOLI OLA
Latin name: Hibiscus waimeae The native white hibiscuses, which include Hibiscus arnottianus (found on Oahu and Molokai) and this species H. waimeae, are the only fragrant hibiscuses in the world, and of all of them, this plant is the most fragrant.Description: Shrubs or trees up to 20 feet tall with light green foliage, densely pubescent on the underside, with the underside of the leaf grayer in color.
Beautiful white flowers emerge at the tips of branches. In the morning, the flowers open up white and slowly fade to a light pink toward the end of the day. The stamen column is brilliantly reddish pink.
Distribution: This rare native white hibiscus is endemic to Waimea Canyon on the island of Kauai and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Landscape use: As with most hibiscus, the Kauai white can be trimmed into a beautiful, highly colorful hedge or left alone to be admired as a specimen plant.
It is wind, sun and drought tolerant and is resistant to the unattractive bumps from gall mites that seem to plague most hybrid hibiscus.
This is another perfect native plant for the xeriscape garden, or any garden for that matter.
Tip: Plant this hibiscus in front of a dark background such as a rock wall or ti leaf background to show off the flowers.
Rick Barboza co-owns Hui Ku Maoli Ola, a Native Hawaiian plant nursery, with Matt Schirman. "In the Garden" runs Fridays.
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In the Garden runs Fridays in Today.
