Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

Description:
Hibiscus kokio subspecies kokio, known by the common Hawaiian name Koki‘o, grows as either a shrub or a small tree growing from 3 to 7 m in height. This species is quite variable in many of its features between and within the islands on which it is found. The leaves are oblong in shape, are 3-10 x 1.5-6.0 cm, as with many members of the Mallow family, the underside of the leaf is covered with stiff branched hairs that make the leaves rough to the touch. The solitary flowers develop near the end of the branches and as with all Hibiscus flowers are very striking because of their size and their form. All Hibiscus have a series of small bracts on the outside of the flower that are attached to the tubular calyx, which surrounds the base of the petals. The bracts appear as a star spreading out beneath the green calyx that contrasts strikingly with the red petals. The petals of these flowers are 4.5-7 cm long and they spread out to reveal the stamens (pollen-producing structures) that are fused at the base into a single column before separating into individual yellow stamens towards the top. At the very tip of the column are five hairy stigma lobes onto which the pollen falls in order to fertilize the ovules. The fruit of Koki‘o is a dry, brown capsule that is 1.6-1.8 cm long. This capsule and splits along its length when mature to release many dark brown seeds that are kidney-shaped and are 3-5 mm long.

(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai’i. Revised Edition. Volume 1. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai‘i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai’i.)

Hibiscus kokio subspecies kokio is found in both dry and wet forests in Hawai‘i. Dry forests are found on the leeward side of each of the major Hawaiian islands in regions that receive only 500-2,000 mm of rain annually. These forests contain a rich diversity of native plants but are now restricted to small forest fragments as a result of land-use competition and the impact of introduced non-native plants and animals. Lowland wet forests are more common throughout the islands and are found at higher elevations below 1200 m in elevation that receive between 1500-5000 mm of rain annually. These forests and the native species they contain are susceptible to grazing by introduced ungulates and competition with introduced plant species. A build up on non-native grasses can also provide fuel for fires in these forests during drought periods.

Hibiscus kokio subspecies kokio can be found in cultivation and is known as Hakalau Red, Kipu Red, and Oahu Red. This subspecies forms a narrow shrub that is not densely branched. Hibiscus kokio subspecies saintjohnianus is more limited in cultivation and is known as Haena Red and Velvet Sunset. This subspecies is more densely branched and provides a good accent plant in native gardens. The tolerance of Koki‘o to dry conditions means that it is a good native species for planting in dry, leeward regions of the Hawaiian Islands that do not require extensive additional watering. Koki‘o is also used for root stock for grafting of other Hibiscus cultivars.

(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai’i.)
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai’i. Revised Edition. Volume 1. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai‘i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai’i.)

The bark of a common species in Hawai‘i, Hibiscus tiliaceous, known by the common name Hau, is widespread in coastal vegetation throughout Hawai‘i. It is not known if Hau is native to Hawai‘i and was found here prior to human contact or if it was introduced by the early Polynesian settlers who used the fibers from the fibers of this plant for cordage and the light wood in the construction of outrigger structures.

(Abbott, I A. 1992. L?`au Hawai‘i: Traditional Hawaiian Uses of Plants. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai’i.)
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai’i. Revised Edition. Volume 1. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai‘i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai’i.)

Hibiscus kokio subspecies kokio is one of two subspecies that are recognized for Hibiscus kokio and is the more widespread of the two subspecies being found on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, and Maui. This subspecies may also be present on Hawai‘i but no observations or collections have been from there. Koki‘o is found in both dry and wet forest on these islands between 70 and 800 m in elevation. Hibiscus kokio subspecies saintjohnianus is found in dry to wet forest also but is only present on Kaua‘i between 150 and 890 m in elevation.

(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai’i. Revised Edition. Volume 1. Bishop Museum Special Publication 97. University of Hawai‘i Press, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai’i.)

Hibiscus kokio is considered as a species of concern by the Endangered Species Act.

(USFWS, DLNR. Threatened and Endangered Plants of Hawaii. Accessed on-line on 3 August 2007 http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/pubs/TEplant.html)

We currently have 60 herbarium specimens for Hibiscus kokio subsp. kokio in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

• 014466 - collected by Harold St. John in 1973
• 044638 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1984
• 044637 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1984
• 044641 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
• 044639 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 013894 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
• 044636 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 044640 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 010414 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1990
• 019696 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1990
• 012950 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1992
• 013752 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1992
• 039987 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1996
• 021553 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1996
• 023956 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1998
• 028295 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1999
• 028347 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1999
• S062136 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1999
• 030299 - collected by Kana Watanabe in 2000
• 035587 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2001
• 056113 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2005
• 055272 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2005
• 054836 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2006
• 045484 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2007
• 049006 - collected by Clay Trauernicht in 2008
• 056258 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2009
• 056242 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2009
• 076376 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
• 065926 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
• 064058 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2012
• 064060 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2012
• 063979 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2012
• 064002 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2012
• 064059 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2012
• 067277 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2013
• 089517 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2013
• 068171 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
• 091906 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
• Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
• 091910 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
• 089743 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
• No - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
• 069689 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2015
• Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2015
• Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2016
• 071229 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2016
• Unassigned - collected by Kama Chock in 2016
• Unassigned - collected by Kama Chock in 2016
• Unassigned - collected by Kama Chock in 2016
• 072607 - collected by Susan M. Deans in 2016
• 072909 - collected by Susan M. Deans in 2016
• 072908 - collected by Susan M. Deans in 2016
• 075724 - collected by Randy Umetsu in 2016
• 074834 - collected by Randy Umetsu in 2017
• 074835 - collected by Randy Umetsu in 2017
• 076506 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2017
• 082140 - collected by Randy Umetsu in 2017
• Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2018
• 082644 - collected by KPEPP in 2020
• 088124 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2021