Koki‘o ke‘o ke‘o (Hibiscus arnottianus)

Photo courtesy of MNBG

Hawaiian name: Koki‘o ke‘oke‘o
Botanical name: Hibiscus arnottianus (Formerly Hibiscus arnottianus subsp. arnottianus)
Family: Malvaceae (Mallow Family)
Status: Endemic
Where found: O‘ahu O Wa; eastern Ko: Wahiawa to Niu Valley
Water/Light: Full sun to part shade, dry to mesic 
Elevation range: 390-2,590 feet 
Height: 26-32 feet

Hawaiian white flowered native Hibiscus are reputed to be the only scented Hibiscus in the world, and have been used extensively in breeding cultivated Hibiscus varieties. This O‘ahu mountain growing species has faintly fragrant, large white flowers with red stamens that stay open for two days. Although naturally endemic only to Oahu it is one of the easiest native Hawaiian Hibiscus to grow in cultivation, reaching maximum height only in ideal environmental conditions. The white flowers may change to pink, especially towards the end of the day, and stay open for two days unlike most other Hibiscus that close after one day. Flowers have the most scent in the early morning when opening, or in the early evening before they close. In lāʻau lapaʻau (Hawaiian medicine), the bases of flowers were sometimes consumed as a mild laxative, and all native Hibiscus were planted as ornamentals in old Hawaiʻi.