Official State Flower of Hawaii The Yellow Hibiscus
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There is a designated flower for each state that is part of America. Hawaii is the youngest state, being the 50th.
Hawaii is located in the great expanse of the Pacific Ocean and includes 124 islands. These islands are very diverse in history, climate, people and culture. Most often people think of Waikiki or Diamond Head when they think of Hawaii, but there is so much more than that.
The islands are populated with colorful people as well as flowers. The yellow hibiscus has been chosen as the official state flower of Hawaii.
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A Little History
The hibiscus was adopted as the Hawaii State flower in 1920, when Hawaii was just a territory of the United States. At that time, it included all varieties and colors of the hibiscus plant. It was in 1959 that Hawaii received statehood. The state legislature then adopted the hibiscus, but it was not until 1988 that the one flower chosen to represent Hawaii was the yellow hibiscus.
About the Yellow Hibiscus
The yellow hibiscus flower is a large, bright yellow flower which has a prominent yellow stamen. It is otherwise known as the hibiscus brackenridgei. These beauties grow from four to six inches across and often have a reddish or maroon center. Most often you see them grow as a single flower at the end of a branch, but they can also grow in small clusters. Although the Hawaiian hibiscus is a native to the Islands of Hawaii, it has become endangered in its natural habitat.
There were originally only five species of hibiscus that were native to Hawaii. Over the years, other varieties have been brought in from other countries. Hybrids have also been developed, so that today you can find the hibiscus flower in many colors, shapes and sizes.
The Seeds
The seeds are covered with fine hairs and are shaped like kidneys. These small seeds are found inside oval capsules which are less than an inch long. After the capsules mature, they open and release the seeds.
The Leaves
The leaves have an uneven number of lobes, usually three, five or seven which and can grow up to six inches long. They are basically green with toothed edges.
Hibiscus Flowers Grow on Bushes
The hibiscus flowers grow on bushes which can reach a height of from three to 15 feet, and grow as wide as eight to 15 feet. The flowers blossom only part of the day, usually in the afternoon between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. Then they close up as if to go to sleep. The bush can have blossoms almost every day during the year, but the blossoms themselves do not blossom very long. That is why you will often see a new hibiscus blossoms worn in the hair each day by many local women.
So, if you are visiting Hawaii soon, or just interested in a little Hawaiian trivia, now you know that the state flower is the yellow hibiscus.
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Why thank you oliversmum. I am so glad that you enjoyed it. Lemon hibiscus - sounds beautiful too. Appreciate your comments.
Very interesting. My country, Malaysia has the red hibiscus as our national flower. I have 3 hibiscus plants in my garden, one bright red, one orange and one yellow.
Hibiscus is a very hardy plant, just like the bougainvillea plants. Both are my favourites as they are very easy to maintain; and always flowering.
Honestly my number one favourite is roses. In our tropical country, they cannot grow well.
What a beautiful flower and a very interesting hub. England's national flower is the rose. The flower has been England’s emblem since the time of the Wars of the Roses - a civil war, which took place between 1455-1485 between the royal house of Lancaster (whose emblem was a red rose) and the royal house of York (whose emblem was a white rose). Scotland's flower is the thistle and Wales the daffodil.
Very nice. I can't think of what NC's flower is. The bird is the Cardinal but I'm lost with the flower! The dog is the Blue Tick I think. Thank you!
I love hibiscus too,but I was not aware of the yellow one being Hawaii's state flower. In India, we have all colours of hibiscus,some dual coloured. And all are beautiful. I have the yellow with a red centre in my garden.
Beautiful hub and beautiful flower. I love the hibiscus. Whenever I see pictures of it, I am automatically taken back to growing up in Polynesia. Thanks for the great information Elayne.
Thank you for this beautiful hub. Your artwork is amazing! ~ and the video so pleasurable to watch; I felt as if I were there. My mother and grandmother lived on Kona several years ago for just a few years, and I visited them. Hawaii truly is paradise ~ in the water too! Wish I could go again ~ you must love it ~ do you were a yellow hibiscus in your hair?
Beautiful flower. It goes with the state.
Thank you Good Guy for adding your country's flower. Almost like Hawaii. Thanks also for your additional information on the hibiscus. I love roses too, but have not yet been able to grow them well, but I love receiving them.
I appreciate your comments Lisa Ward. England, Scotland and Wales are some of my favorite places. I was in Scotland at this time last year. So beautiful.
@Micky Dee - I looked the state flower for NC and it is the Dogwood. I am not very familiar with that flower so perhaps you can write a hub on it.
@Purple Perl - Lucky you have so many beautiful flowers in India. Some day I hope to visit there.
@LianaK - Glad to remind you of your younger years. I appreciate your comments.
@tracykarl99 - Thanks for the comment about my artwork. As you can see, I love creating with the hibiscus as it is such an amazing flower. Some day I wear hibiscus in my hair. They also make artificial flowers to look almost like the real thing. Aloha.
Thanks dahoglund - Thanks, I agree.
Thanks dahoglund - Thanks, I agree.
Hawaii to us is always a land of dreams and beauty. The flower too is so beautiful. Thank you for telling us all about it.
@Hello, hello - Not sure about a land of dreams - it kind of has a sad past if you want to read about the annexation of Hawaii, you can go here
http://hubpages.com/hub/Annexation-of-The-Hawaiian
We enjoy it through the sacrifice of others, I'm afraid.
I spent 9 years in Hawaii living on Kauai, then Hawaii Kai, I also was a performer on the USSIndependance and enjoyed visiting all the Islands. I enjoyed your hub as it brought back memories. Thanks - Aloha
What beautiful artwork! I was trying to read your Hub and I kept going back to look at the first picture. hehe. Very nice! Great Hub as well by the way. Lovely flower. I wish I had a few in my yard!
Thanks vocalcoach - I am glad you added your experiences in Hawaii - sounds like you had a great time here. I would love to hear you perform.
@kaltopsyd - thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed the artwork. They are not hard to grow btw.
Wow!! Useful AND beautiful. Loved the video, too. Great music. Thanks you for a very interesting article,.
Glad you enjoyed it Dim. Thanks so much for visiting.
Your hub reminds me of the time I lived in Hawaii. The flowers are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
This hub is so beautiful and well put togheteher. I really love the artwork, and the last picture is just wonderful, it makes me happy!
Thanks so much thoughtforce. That you appreciate my art even makes it better. Aloha!
Beautiful hub about a beautiful subject. Thank you for the history lesson and research on this beautiful flower. Peace to you my friend.
Thanks so much pmccray. Glad you enjoyed my hub about our Hawaiian state flower. They are very pretty and bloom all year round here. Aloha!
I love hibiscus! they are one of the true beauties in Hawaii! aloha
I agree peacegirl101. There are so many flowers here, but the hibiscus stands out for its simplicity and beauty.
Yes, they are very beautiful! Whats your favorite color of hibiscus? I cant decide they are all so beautiful! :D
Aloha
They grow to be four to six inches across? Wow..I want some in my yard! lol These are gorgeous...I had no idea this is the state flower!! Such a great hub!
Glad you enjoyed the hub about the yellow hibiscus TheVacation Lady. Yes, my son had some huge ones in his yard and they were magnificent. I took some great pictures of them too.
I do love the yellow hibiscus peacegirl101, but I also enjoy the red and multicolor ones.
I wish to visit Hawaii someday.I did not know that the yellow hibiscus was the official state flower of Hawaii.Hibiscus flowers also have other uses, hibiscus petal powder can be applied to your hair as a conditioner.It does have some ayurvedic properties as well.
Thanks for that addition to my hub ponx. So many flowers are used for natural medicine. Hope you get a chance to visit some day.
I just love the hibiscus! :) But hawaii isn't the only place where hibiscus' grown, right? Don't the grow in other states too? Thanks!
Aloha!!!!
-peace
Sure peacegirl101 - hibiscus grow in other states and countries, but Hawaii adopted it as their state flower. Most states in the US have their own state flower.
Oh, thanks for the info, elayne. Yeah, my state has a state flower too.
Aloha
oliversmum Level 3 Commenter 22 months ago
elayne001. Hi. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your hub, with great information on Hawaii and the Hibiscus, some of which was all new to me.
We have one in our garden Lemon in color, it's beautiful.
Thank you for sharing this hub with us, it was so very interesting. :) :)