Hibiscus kokio subsp. kokio & subsp. saintjohnianus
Malvaceae or Mallow family
Synonyms for subsp. kokio: Hibiscus arnottianus var. kokio, Hibiscus kahilii, Hibiscus kokio, Hibiscus kokio var. pekeloi, Hibiscus kokio var. pukoonis, Hibiscus oahuensis, Hibiscus ula
Synonyms for subsp. sainjohnianus: Hibiscus roetae, Hibiscus saintjohnianus, Hibiscus saint johnianus, Hibiscus saint-johnianus, Hibiscus saintjohnianus
Kokiʻo ʻula
Kokiʻo, Kokiʻo ʻulaʻula, Mākū
subsp. kokio: Hawaiian red hibiscus
subsp. sainjohnianus: Hawaiian orange hibiscus, St. John's hibiscus, St. John's rosemallow
Natural Range & Environment
Both Hibiscus kokio subspecies are endangered and endemic to the dry forests and open scrub/grasslands in the Hawaiian Islands. H.k. subsp. kokio is found on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island (?). H.k. subsp. saintjohnianus is restricted to northwest Kauaʻi.
Hibiscus kokio is found in flower colors ranging from red or sometimes pink in subsp. kokio to orange or rarely yellow in subsp. saintjohnianus (Photograph of yellow-flowered form courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 2.0). Cultivated shrub.
Description
Shrubs to small trees up to about 23 feet (7 m). The dark green glossy leaves range from about an inch to over 4 inches. Solitary flowers are borne at the end of branches. Petals of subsp. kokio are red or sometimes pink; while petals of subsp. saintjohnianus are orange, orange-red or rarely yellow. Flowers typically last one day.
Growth Requirements
General
Use kokiʻo ʻula in landscapes in sunny or part-sunny areas. Plants are nearly in constant bloom year-round. Since it is considered drought tolerant, when established in the ground, water once a month or less in dry months. Protect from strong wind, especially in containers.
Fertilize using a 2-1-3 ratio with minor elements such as magnesium and iron. It is important to keep phosphorus low because it tends to accumulate and prevents the nitrogen and potassium from working.
Since this subspecies tends to produce long, slender, sparingly-branched upright or arching stems and it may be best suited as a background plant. If used as a focal plant, it can be pruned somewhat. But do not prune excessively as it may be slow to recover.
If used as a hedge, it may require light pruning two or three times a year. Do not prune heavily.
Pests and Diseases
Kokiʻo ʻula is susceptible to infestations by sucking insects. Chinese Rose beetles can be manually removed from the plant. The native red hibiscus is also vulnerable to attacks by hibiscus erineum mites, although to a lesser extent compared to the Chinese Red hibiscus commonly used for hedges and potted plants.
Refer to the Pests & Diseases page for treatments.
Uses
Ancient Hawaiian
Both the native red and white hibiscuses were cultivated near homes for their flowers, which were used for both ornamental and medicinal purposes [Kepler 1995]. Kokiʻo was traditionally prepared by pounding it with other plants, straining the juice, and consuming it for purification purposes. The leaves were chewed and ingested as a natural laxative, while mothers would chew the buds and give them to infants and children for the same purpose. [McDonald & Weissich 2003] Additionally, mothers would chew the buds and give them to children, or children would consume the seeds to help strengthen a weak child.
The beautiful flowers were skillfully crafted into stunning lei, but unfortunately, they only lasted for a day [Handy & Handy 1972].
Modern
Some cultivars have been recognized for subspecies kokio: 'Garden Club of Hawaii', 'Hakalau Red', 'Kipu Red', and 'Oʻahu Red.' Two recognized cultivars for subspecies saintjohnianus are 'Haena Red' and 'Velvet Sunset'. Propagator and grower Dennis Kim has also created a few cultivars such as 'Mary Foster,' 'Keahi,' and 'Gold.' [Priscilla Millen, Eickhoff: pers. comm.]
Special Features and Information
General
The Malvaceae family, also known as the large Mallow family with over 4,200 species, including well-known plants such as okra, cacao, durian, baobab, kenaf, and cotton. Within the genus Hibiscus, there are over 400 species worldwide [WikipediA;Malvaceae], with five endemic and two indigenous species found in the Hawaiian Islands.
Huppman (2013), based on her DNA research, has suggested that Hibiscus kokio be reclassified as three separate species: Hibiscus kahilii, H. kokio and H. saintjohnianus.
When a "red hibiscus" was designated the official flower of the Territory of Hawaiʻi by the Legislature in 1923, it was not specified to any particular Hibiscus species or variety which led to some confusion with many considering either the native red (Hibiscus kokio) or the Chinese red hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) as the Hawaiʻi State flower. In 1988, however, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature resolved the issue by declaring our native yellow hibiscus or maʻo hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei) as the official flower of the State of Hawaiʻi [Kepler 1998].
Hawaiian Name
The Hawaiian name Kokiʻo ʻula is used to refer to two native red hibiscus species, Hibiscus clayi and H. kokio. The term ʻula translates to red or scarlet, while ʻulaʻula signifies a deeper shade of red.
Despite the fact that the flowers of subspecies saintjohnianus come in shades of orange (ʻalani), orange-yellow (melemele ʻili ʻalani), or yellow (melemele) rather than red (ʻula), they are still commonly known as Kokiʻo ʻula.
An alternative name for this species is Mākū, although its exact meaning remains unclear. Mākū can also mean firm, hard, thick, stiff, like molasses, jellied, solidified, to gel, harden, to settle like dregs, to thicken like cream, or dregs, sediment, lees. The potential connection between these meanings and the plant species is uncertain.
Etymology
Hibiscus is the Latinized form of the Greek word ibiskoj or hibiskos from Virgil, hibiscum, for the marshmallow plant, Althaea officinalis [Gledhill 2008]. The specific and subspecific epithet, kokio, comes from the Hawaiian name for this plant. The subspecific epithet, saintjohnianus, is named after Harold St. John (1892-1991), a professor of botany at the University of Hawaʻi at Mānoa from 1929 to 1958 and a prolific field botanist, credited with discovering hundreds of new species [Kepler 1995].
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