Hibiscus brackenridgei

Common Names

Ma'o Hau Hele, Native Yellow Hibiscus, Brackenridge's Rosemallow, Hawaiian Hibiscus, Mokulēʻia Rosemallow, Yellow Hibiscus

Summary

Endemic to Hawai‘i, the plant grows as a shrub or small tree up to 3–15 ft tall, with fuzzy, toothed leaves that are 3–7 lobed and up to 6 inches long. It bears large yellow flowers, 4–6 inches in diameter, often with a maroon center and a yellow staminal column, borne at branch tips; blooms mainly from spring to early summer, with the Oʻahu subspecies blooming January–March, and it inhabits dry forests and shrublands at 400–2,600 ft elevation. It is endangered in the wild.

Best grown in full sun with well-drained soil and regular moisture to keep the soil evenly moist; it can be cultivated as a specimen, hedge, screen, or container plant and is hardy in USDA zones 9b–11. Propagation is by seed or cuttings; maintenance includes pruning after flowering to encourage branching and to maintain shrub form, with careful watering to avoid root problems.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-15 ft

Spread

8-15 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun (6–8 hours/day); may benefit from partial shade in hot afternoons.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.5; sandy or rocky soils ideal

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring through early Summer

Foliage Color

Green (grayish green to dark green)

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Fast growth

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Grafting

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, butterflies, other pollinators