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Tropical hibiscus and Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE Tropical hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo Hibiscus arnottianus
	GO NATIVE
Native range
Asia	Hawaiian native range: Oʻahu, Molokaʻi.See state guides
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade	Part sun & shade
Soil moisture
Moist, well-drained soil	Average moisture
Mature height
4–10 ft	6–10+ ft
Mature spread
5–8 ft	Up to 20 ft
USDA hardiness zones
9–11	Choose by island, elevation, and rainfall.
Season of interest
Spring–fall	Year-round flowers
Garden & wildlife value
Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.	Fragrant white flowers bring a distinctly Hawaiian hibiscus to a flowering hedge.
Growing notes
An evergreen tropical shrub. In colder climates it needs a container and frost-free winter protection.	Forms differ in size; give this Oʻahu and Molokaʻi native room and use nursery-propagated stock.
Growing information	Growing information

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.