Plants and Flowers in Maui

red hibiscus

Hawaii has some of the most exotic and amazing flowers and colors.  Last year and the year before, I did a post on exotic fruit that we saw on the island. However, this year, I decided to writing about all the gorgeous plants and flowers that we saw. 

Hawaii's state flower is the yellow hibiscus also known as the pua aloalo.  This flower comes in yellow, red, and pink. Hawaii adopted the yellow hibiscus in 1988 as the official state flower.The hibiscus is also found in Asia and the Pacific islands. It is believed that there were originally only five hibiscus species native to the Hawaiian islands.My favorite hibiscus flower is the yellow one because yellow is a cheery color and matches the flower. It is also my favorite color.

Yellow hibiscus (State Flower)

hibiscus

pink hibiscus

Red Ti

The Red Ti plant, also known as the Cordyline Fruticosa, is more commonly called the Hawaiian Good Luck plant or simply the Ti plant. This evergreen palm is from the Agave family and is still used in Hawaii today to make grass skirts for traditional celebrations.

There are many varietals of the Red Ti plant, some of which are more popular for use as indoor potted plants, while others are grown outdoors for landscaping, hula skirt production, or as accents in flower arrangements. The Red Ti rhizomes are also edible, although they are rarely eaten by humans today.

Red Ginger

The Red Ginger plant is native to parts of Melanesia.
The flower comes in a few different colors such as red, pink, or white.
This plant can grow up to 15 feet (5 m) tall, but usually much less.
Here in Hawaii, Red Ginger is usually found growing at the edge of lowland forests, trails and roads. The flowers make beautiful, long-lasting cut flowers and are popular for tropical flower arrangements.

Wow, that is a huge leaf.  It is bigger than my sisters hand.

Singapore Plumeria, Singapore Graveyard Flower, Frangipani

Here in Hawaii, Singapore Plumeria is grown in sunny places and usually in lower elevation.  The flowers are wonderfully fragrant. Singapore Plumeria flowers are made into leis or worn tucked behind the ear. This beautiful flower surprisingly is poisonous.  The milky latex sap can irritate the skin.

Allamanda, Yellow Allamanda, Golden Trumpet

Here in Hawaii, Allamanda grows in wet to areas at lower elevations and is especially common along roadsides. This naturalized flowering vine is native to northern South America and Brazil. Just like the Singapore Plumeria, the Allamanda is poisonous if cut or damaged.

Acacia Trees

The Koa Acacia is one of the largest species of trees in the world with more than 800 different types growing in warm, tropical and desert-like regions of both hemispheres. The Koa Acacia is native to Hawaii.  It is my favorite tree because I love the flat tree tops.

Haleakalā Silversword

Haleakalā Silversword is an interesting plant and is part of the daisy family.  This plant grows on the Haleakala Volcano. The Haleakala Silversword blooms one time in its life and then the entire plant dies.The plant can live up to 50 years before ever producing a flower. When it does bloom, the flower is a long red stalk that grows 2 meters high.

Palm trees

Have you seen any of these flowers?

What is your favorite plant?