This is a rare look at Hibiscus kokio subsp. saintjohnianus, found only on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.  All throughout the year, it makes delightful orange blossoms that are super showy.  Its attractive glossy leaves give the plant a great tropical look.  This is an endangered species that is threatened with extinction in the wild.  Fortunately it is easy to grow when given the right conditions.  It is seldom seen for sale.

It is a vigorous bush that can potentially get 18 feet tall, but you can keep it pruned to any size you need.  The smooth, 4 inch leaves make a great backdrop for the blooms, which appear at the ends of the branches.  The 3 inch blossoms are bright orange and are accented by yellow anthers and a scarlet style.  It can flower all year long.  Feel free to hybridize it with my Hibiscus clayi to create new forms.  The plant used to be widespread on Kauai, but non-native animals & plants have reduced it to a few scattered locations.

It grows best in intermediate to warm temperatures.  It can tolerate cool temps, and reportedly can survive a light frost, but it's best to protect it from frost.  It grows great indoors in a large pot.  It flowers best with a few hours of sun or bright artificial light, but it can take less light if you don't mind fewer blooms.  Give it a well-draining soil mix and keep it evenly moist or let it dry out halfway between waterings.  Over about 40% humidity is probably best.  Avoid high-phosphorus "bloom" fertilizers.  It doesn't need lots of fertilizer to be happy. 

Photos used with permission: #1 & 3 by Forest & Kim Starr, #2 & 4 by David Eickhoff 

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