ʻAkiohala produces large pink single-day flowers (Photograph courtesy of Bob Peterson CC BY-SA 2.0.). Often ʻakiohala flowers never fully open, hence the common name "Sleepy hibiscus." Note the forked bracts at the base of the flower, the species characteristic expressed in its scientific name, furcellata (Photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 3.0 US.). Be wary of the sharp spines on ʻakiohala's dry fruits (and elsewhere) when collecting its small seeds (Fruit photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 2.0; seeds photograph [in header] courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 2.0.). Unfortunately, as you can see in the photograph above, Chinese rose beetles love to chew on ʻakiohala leaves. Refer to our Pest & Diseases page for ways to deter this pest. ʻAkiohala have a nectary gland on the undersurface of their leaves near the petiole (Photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 2.0.). Both this young and older cultivated ʻakiohala will bloom for much of the year (Younger plant photograph courtesy of Veronica McCleign CC BY-NC-SA 4.0; older plant photograph courtesy of J.B. Friday ©.).

Growth Requirements

General

    ʻAkiohala is the only native hibiscus that can tolerate, even thrive, in waterlogged soils. This makes it a particularly good choice for soggy or swampy landscapes (e.g., that low spot in your yard that always puddles after a rain) or areas directly adjacent to water features such as ponds or streams. Somewhat surprisingly, cultivated ʻakiohala will also grow in much drier areas provided the subsoil remains moist. Use ʻakiohala as an accent, informal hedge, or screen. ʻAkiohala can also be kept as a container plant; however, periodic transfers to larger and larger pots are needed to prevent its roots from becoming crowded and potbound.

    ʻAkiohala does best in a site with full sunlight for all or most of the day. If not planted in constantly-moist soil, water your plant regularly to keep the subsoil (one or two inches down) moist at all times. We have grown ʻakiohala successfully in clay and organic-dominant soils, and cinder-rich media but have not attempted to grow it in sandy or coralline soil or media. According to Anna Palomino [per. comm.], ʻakiohala is intolerant of salty conditions, and, therefore, not a good choice for near-ocean landscapes.

    Young ʻakiohala grow quickly, and you can expect to have a sizable shrub (three or more feet [1 m] tall) in one to two years. Your plant should also be flowering by this time. After two years, growth seems to slow down, perhaps because most of the plant's energy and resources are being diverted into flowers and fruits. 

    According to several commercial hibiscus growers, it's important to use a fertilizer with lots of potassium, very little phosphorus, and a moderate amount of nitrogen, as well as one that contains minor elements such as magnesium and iron, to keep hibiscus healthy, growing, and producing the maximum number of flowers [Hidden Valley Hibiscus]. This seems like good advice, but to be honest, I (Koebele) have never fertilized any of my in-the-ground native hibiscus other than the occasional topdressing with compost. For potted native hibiscus, I have used either a standard controlled-release fertilizer (applied about twice a year) or have sprayed my plants with a standard foliar inorganic fertilizer at half the recommended strength every few months. Therefore, if you're happy with the growth and flower production of your ʻakiohala, don't worry too much about fertilizer. On the other hand, if your plant is slow-growing, chlorotic (yellowing), or produces few flowers, consider adopting the above-mentioned recommendations from these experienced hibiscus growers.   

    Pruning or collecting flowers or seeds from your ʻakiohala can be a painful experience because of its numerous spiny hairs. Therefore, always wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt whenever removing old seed pods (which can be numerous and unattractive) or dead branches. Additionally, if you have young children, plant your ʻakiohala someplace safe, away from any play areas.

Pests and Diseases

    Chinese rose beetles love ʻakiohala. And, while we’ve never seen the beetles kill a plant, they do make it unsightly with all the hole-ridden leaves. One creative way to minimize beetle damage is to plant your ʻakiohala near an overhead outdoor lamp. Turn the lamp on at sunset and leave it on until about midnight. The beetles will avoid the light, and, with luck, your ʻakiohala. Mealybugs sometimes attack young plants as well as the stem-tips and flower buds of older plants. Aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies also sometimes become a problem. Refer to the Pests & Diseases page for ways to deal with each of the above-mentioned pests.

Special Features and Information

General

    ʻAkiohala belongs to the Mallow family (Malvaceae), which contains about 4,225 species within 243 genera. Family members include herbs, shrubs, and trees found worldwide, but most commonly in the tropics. Some of the more economically important species include: cotton (Gossypium spp.), cacao (Theobroma cacao), linden (Tilia spp.), durian (Durio spp.), Hibiscus, and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) [Britannica;Malvaceae]. 

    Malvaceae is one of the more common plant families in Hawai‘i, with native members in the genera Abutilon, Gossypium, Hibiscadelphus, Hibiscus, Kokia, Sabdariffa, Sida, Talipariti, Thespesia, and Waltheria [Flora of the Hawaiian Islands]. 

    Sabdariffa furcellata has one sister species, the endangered Sabdariffa brackenridgei, Hawai‘i's State flower. In contrast to Sabdariffa furcellata outside Hawai‘i, the stems of ʻakiohala are typically covered with hairs [Wagner et al. 1990]. ʻAkiohala is one of two native hibiscus with pink flowers. The other is a form of Hibiscus kokio subsp. kokio, sometimes referred to as "Hibiscus kahilii."

Hawaiian Name

ʻAkiahala and ʻakiohala are spelling variations of this species' Hawaiian name. Aloalo is a generalized name Hawaiians use for all hibiscus species. Hau hele translates to "traveling hau," where hau is the common Hawaiian tree Talipariti titiaceum (syn: Hibiscus titaceus). Hau hele wai translates to "traveling hau in (or near) water," likely referring to the habitat preference of this species. See Sabdariffa brackenridgei for other interpretations of hau hele.

Etymology

    Sabdariffa has an uncertain origin. It may have come from a West Indian vernacular name for a local hibiscus [Gledhill 2008], which, in turn, might have come from either a Jamaican word or a Turkish word [Wiktionary;sabdariffa].

    The former genus name, Hibiscus, is the Latinized form of the Greek word ibiskoj or hibiskos from Virgil, hibiscum, for the marshmallow plant, Althaea officinalis [Gledhill 2008]. 

    The species name, furcellata, is from the Latin words, furcatus, meaning "small two-pronged fork," and celatum, meaning "hidden" or "concealed" [The Bible of Botany], referring to the small forked tips of the involucral bracts at the base of its flowers [Treasure Coast Natives].