Hawaiian Flowers: 22 of the Most Beautiful Flowers Of Hawaii

Hawaii’s Floral Diversity

About 1,000 species of plants are native to Hawaii, and about half of those are found nowhere else in the world. Sadly, almost one-third of them are considered to be endangered or under threat of extinction due to habitat loss. 

Many popular types of plants commonly grown in Hawaii have been introduced from other places. These non-natives were brought to the island on purpose for use in gardens, and some arrived by accident. 

In Hawaii, many of the non-natives (not all) get along well with local plants, have naturalized, and have been embraced by the local culture. They are being used in rituals, medicines, ceremonies, and lei-making right alongside native plants. 

25 Beautiful Flowers Of Hawaii

Discover some unique flowers which contribute to the beauty of the islands. Find even more plants by searching the plant database of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens.

1. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) 

Seen in private and public gardens all over Hawaii, the unique Bird of Paradise flower truly resembles the shape of an exotic bird peeking out of the foliage. Though it originated in South Africa, the plant’s colorful orange and midnight blue petals and banana-like leaves fit right into the island style. Growing to 3- to 4-foot-tall, Bird of Paradise even grows wild along riverbanks and coastal clearings. It can also be grown as a dramatic container plant and doesn’t mind being potbound.

See the Almanac’s Growing Guide for Bird of Paradise.

2. Heliconias 

Another strangely shaped flower is the heliconia. Native to the American rainforests, heliconias have become popular garden plants in the tropics. Brightly-colored, they make long-lasting cut flowers in a tropical bouquet. Most will bloom year-round, and each flower may last several days or months. There are many that grow in Hawaii, but here are two popular ones:

• Parakeet heliconia (H. psittacorum) has yellow bracts that look like a parrot’s beak.

• Hanging lobster claw heliconia (H. rostrata) has long, bright red bracts that hang from its long leaves.

3. Flowering Maple | Ko’oloa ‘ula (Abutilon menziesii)

Abutilon Flowering Maple—Ko’oloa ‘ula in Hawaiian—is an endangered relative of the hibiscus found only in Hawaii’s dry forest regions. In the mallow family, it grows to be a spreading shrub 6 to 10 feet tall and wide. It has velvety, heart-shaped leaves and is drought-tolerant. 

The 1-inch wide, 5-petalled, maroon-red flowers have yellow centers and hang down like bells. Its cousin, the double-flowering royal or lantern ilima (A. pictum), has paper-thin petals in yellow, orange, or red used in lei making. It is also the official island flower of Oahu. shaped like a bird’s head. It blooms in fall, winter, and spring. This flower will grow in the mainland U.S. in zones 10 to 12.

4. Frangipani (Plumeria rubra) 

Famous for its white, pink, or red flowers used to make lei, frangipani is widely grown in Hawaii even though this tropical tree is not native. Blossoming from April to Sept., the flowers have a spicy lemon scent. It was first introduced to Hawaii in 1860 and was called “graveyard flower” because it was often planted in cemeteries. 

The flowers can represent new beginnings or symbolize a woman’s romantic status. Worn behind the left ear means she is taken; behind the right ear, she is free to meet a new partner.  On the mainland U.S., plumeria is hardy in Zones 9 to 11. 

See the Almanac’s Growing Guide to Frangipani (Plumeria).

5.  Māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) 

A shrubby native plant,  māmane bears yellow pea-like flowers. Left to its own devices, it can grow into a 50-foot-tall tree! Its wood was historically used in rituals to ward off evil spirits. 

6. Bougainvillea

A tropical vine native to Brazil, bougainvillea is quite popular in hot, dry areas of Hawaii, where it is grown as a vine or trained into hedges. Its neon-bright colors come from modified leaves that surround the small white flowers. 

Bougainvillea is in full bloom year-round and is treasured by lei makers wanting to add a pop of color to their creations in winter. Certainly, this vine is popular in the U.S., though often treated as a summer annual north of Zone 9.

See the Almanac’s Growing Guide to Bougainvillea.

7. Flamingo Lily (Anthurium andraeanum)

A South American native, Flamingo lily has entered gardens worldwide. Hardy in zones 11 to 12, it loves humidity and the tropical gardens of Hawaii. It produces a 6-inch-wide, waxy, red, heart-shaped spathe on a 16-inch-tall plant and can be grown in a container. See the Almanac’s Growing Guide to Anthurium. 

8. Dwarf Poinciana (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) 

Ohai ali’i is a smaller version of the stately Royal Poinciana that can be 40 feet tall. It’s a popular evergreen shrub with fern-like leaves and clusters of 2-inch wide red, orange, and yellow flowers. 

These shrubs grow to be only 6 to 15 feet tall at the most. They are drought-tolerant and thrive in dry coastal areas of Hawaii. Their bright flowers, which bloom year-round, are used in lei-making.

Hibiscus Flowers of Hawaii

There are seven species of Hibiscus native to Hawaii! This flower is so beloved by the people of Hawaii and representative of its beauty that it is considered the state flower! Hibiscus symbolizes joy and happiness. See the Almanac’s Growing Guide for Hibiscus.

9. Yellow Hibiscus | Ma’o Hau Hele (H. brackenridgei) 

This beautiful native flower,  Ma’o hau hele has large yellow trumpet-like flowers. It can become a 30-foot tall tree but is usually grown as a sprawling shrub that flowers in winter and spring. In the wild, it is rare and endangered due to habitat loss. Many of the yellow hibiscus being grown in gardens are hybrids.

10. Fragrant White Hibiscus | Koki’o ke’oke’o (H. arnottianus) 

With its showy white blossoms, Koki’o ke’oke’o grows up to 15 feet tall. It is native to the wet forests of Oahu and Molokai and is only one of two hibiscus with fragrant flowers. 

Its blooms are large and slightly ruffled, with prominent, dark pink or red stamens.  Its ability to thrive in moist or dry conditions makes it a widely grown landscape plant, and there are many hybrids of it available. It was once used in traditional medicine for stomach issues. 

11. Kauai White Hibiscus | Koki’o kea (H. waimeae) 

Another intensely fragrant white hibiscus, Koki’o ke’oke’ is native only to Waimea. It is federally endangered in the wild, but hybrids of it are often grown near homes for their lovely fragrance. As a shrub, it grows 6 to 10 feet tall and is long-lived.

12. Red Kauai Rosemallow | Koki’o’ ula’ula (H. clayi) 

A shrub or small tree, this flowering plant is native to Kauai and is federally and critically endangered. It’s long-lived and grows up to 10 to 15 feet tall. The slender petals are either showy, bright, or dark red on tiny flowers.

13. Linden Leaf Rosemallow | Akiohala (H. furcellatus)

This indigenous Hawaiian plant blossoms all year round, but each funnel-shaped pink or purple blossom lasts only one day.
A 10-foot tall, 6-8 foot wide shrub with large heart-shaped leaves, it’s found naturally in wet, marshy areas. 

The buds may appear droopy or half-opened, earning them the nickname “sleepy hibiscus.” The buds were used in traditional medicine as a laxative. 

14. Sea Hibiscus | Hau (H. tiliaceus) 

The sea hibiscus or Hau in Hawaii has yellow flowers and dark red throats. Brought by Polynesian settlers, it grows along coastal areas of Hawaii but is also used as an ornamental shrub in warm regions (zones 9 to 11) of the continental US, such as Florida, where it has been listed as invasive. 

In tree form, it has a multitude of traditional uses. Its tough, light wood was used to make outrigger canoes, the bark was woven into mats, rope, or fishing nets, and the whole plant has many medicinal properties. 

15. Native Red Hibiscus | Koki ‘o’ ula (H. kokio) 

Found only in Hawaii, where it is rare and considered a species of concern, the native red hibiscus has narrow orange-red petals with bright red and yellow stamens and blooms all year long. Several subspecies can be found in cultivation. It tolerates dry conditions and makes a nice accent plant in native Hawaiian gardens.

16. Red Hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis) 

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, also known as tropical hibiscus, is a shrub with magnificent flowers. A summer bloomer, there are also pink and orange flowering varieties. Though it originated in China long ago, the red hibiscus is grown widely on the Hawaiian islands.

Orchids of Hawaii

Orchids of all types are popular in Hawaii, but only three are native, and two of those are fairly rare. 

• The Liparis Hawaiensis has tiny green flowers and is found high in rainforest canopies. It blossoms from May through November. 
• The fringed orchid (Platanthera holochila) is an endangered species. It is found in shady wet bogs and has tiny greenish-yellow blossoms
• The jewel orchid (Anoectochilus sandvicensis) is the most commonly found native orchid, but even then, it grows high in rainforest canopies. It is known more for its sparkling leaves than for its insignificant flowers.

Dendrobiums are one of the orchids introduced to Hawaii that have become part of Hawaiian culture …

17. Dendrobium Orchids

Used to make the popular purple flower lei given to tourists, dendrobium orchids are locally grown for lei-making. See the Almanac’s Growing Guide to Orchids.

18. Vanda Orchid

This orchid is responsible for giving the island of Hawaii the nickname “the Orchid Isle” when it was grown here by the millions after World War II.  It is a hybrid orchid originally made in Singapore. The Vanda Orchid grows in the stunning Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s also locally grown for lei-making, as are other orchids, including cattleyas, cymbidiums, and epidendrum.

Gingers of Hawaii

Gingers are invasive plants first brought to Hawaii from Asia by immigrants in the mid-19th century. They are sturdy and easy to grow in cool, wet areas. Some have colored bracts instead of a showy flower. There are several types:

19. Torch Ginger | Awapuhi-ko’oko’o (Etlingera elatior) 

With vibrant blooms, Torch ginger has bracts that are cherry red with yellow edges. As the bracts open up, the lower leaves turn down to make a cone-shaped torch. The inner segments are pink with yellow edges, and the greenish-red fruits are used in traditional dishes. Very exotic-looking, they are often grown in local landscapes, but the tall clumps of greenery need plenty of room.

20. Red Ginger | Awapuhi’ula’ula (Alpinia purpurata) 

Native to Malaysia, red ginger was brought to Hawaii as an ornamental in 1928 and has become naturalized. It has long-lasting red bracts and is a popular cut flower. The flower has come to represent wealth, passion, and diversity. 

21. White Ginger Lily | Awapuhi-ke’oke’o (Hedychium coronarium)

Growing wild in Hawaii’s rainforests, white ginger lily is also a popular garden plant. Its delicate flowers are very fragrant and only last for one day, but each plant can produce hundreds of blossoms over its six-week bloom time. They are woven into lei and symbolize health and good fortune. There is also a yellow ginger lily (Hedychium flavescens). Both spread via underground rhizomes to form large colonies.

22. Blue Ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) 

Striking blue flowers bloom in 10-inch long stalks of leafy plants that grow to be 3 to 6 feet tall. Not a member of the ginger family, it has a similar look and spreads by underground rhizomes. After a dry winter period, it blooms from June to October. They are hardy in zones 9 to 10 and thrive in the shade. 

Don’t let this list limit your imagination! The Hawaiian Islands are full of many, many more interesting and beautiful plants. I’m ready to visit, how about you?

See how to care for tropical plants over winter.