KOKI'O KE'OKE'O

Hey! I’m Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo, a subspecies of hibiscus. I have beautiful white flowers, only about a fifth the size of common hibiscus flowers, but I think that just makes me all the more special! 

About me:

I’m a small shrub, and usually grow to around 5-8 ft tall. My leaves are light green, and are larger than the typical hibiscus waimeae, or white hibiscus, leaves, but our flowers have the same bright white petals, light pink stamens, and fragrance. My flowers bloom at the tips of my branches, so they stand out even though they’re small. They stay white for about two days, then fade to light pink and start to close.

My home:

I’m endemic to Kauai, so I don’t live anywhere else in the world! You can find me in wet forests in the island’s northern and northwest valleys. 

My favorite places are partially shaded, but I don’t really mind the full sun either. My biggest pet peeves are aphids and whiteflies, so as long as you keep an eye out for those I’ll be just fine. If you want to grow me in your garden, I also like regular watering if it’s hot out or not raining much (: