Blooms From Hawaii
- The yellow hibiscus is Hawaii's official flower.hibiscus image by Melva Vivian from Fotolia.com
Hawaii's hot, humid weather is ideal for tropical flowers. Popular for their exotic appearance and lush colors, some blooms are native to the state, and others were imported. The Aloha-Hawaii website notes that a number of popular blooms represent both the individual islands and the state as a whole. Hawaii falls into the USDA's Hardiness Zones 10a, 10b and 11. - The official flower of Hawaii since 1988, the yellow hibiscus is known to locals as "aloalo" or "mao hau hele." According to the University of Hawaii's native plants website, the main blooming period for the yellow hibiscus is February through May, with additional intermittent blooming periods throughout the year. The hibiscus shrub produces yellow flowers; some varieties are red or maroon in the center. The yellow hibiscus thrives in the full sun and can tolerate drought conditions, the University of Hawaii's website cautions that the yellow hibiscus must be kept dry and not overwatered.
- The Hawaiian island of Oahu is represented by the yellow ilima. It is indigenous to Hawaii. The flowers are described as showy; in addition to flowers in light and deep shades of yellow, the ilima also produces red and orange blooms year round. Ilimas love full sun and do not require a lot of water. Historically, the ilima flower was used by early Hawaiians for medicinal purposes, such as enemas, or as part of an asthma treatment. The yellow ilima flower is commonly used in leis.
- Also known as the lehua, the red ohia blooms from a shrub or tree. Trees that produce ohia blooms can be more than 50 feet tall. The big island of Hawaii's official flower needs to be kept moist and prefers full sun. Historically, ohia flowers were given to women to reduce labor pains, according to the University of Hawaii's website. The red ohia blooms year-round; as a result, the trees are a magnet for bees and insects, so are not a good choice for planting close to the doors of a home.
- The pink lokelani, also known as the pink cottage rose, was imported in the 1800s, according to the Hawaii Flower website. The flower of Maui is the only official flower that is not native to the Hawaiian islands. The beauty and fragrance of the pink lokelani's delicate bloom has inspired poetry and songs.
- Popular in lei making, the hinahina is the official flower of the Hawaiian island of Kaho'olawe. The word "hinahina" means gray or silver-gray in Hawaiian, according to the University of Hawaii's native plants website; the grayish leaves of the hinahina shrub produces white or purple flowers. Hinahina thrives in sunny conditions and needs a minimum of six hours of full sun everyday. It should be kept dry in between waterings. Hinahina blooms year-round and is also a weed suppressant, according to the University of Hawaii.
