Yellow Hibiscus - the Hawaii State
Flower
Before 1988, the Hibiscus (all
colors) was the Hawaii State Flower (and before statehood in 1959 the
Territorial Flower). In 1988, the yellow Hibiscus, because it is
native to Hawaii, was chosen as the State Flower.
Orchids are grown commercially on several Hawaiian islands.
There are orchid clubs all over the world.
Bougainvilleas have a
secret. Their bright colors are not the flowers, but are the leaves.
The actual flower is very tiny and is in the center of the brightly colored
leaves.
Bird of Paradise is named after paradise.
How appropriate for Hawaii!
The ginger we use for flavoring food comes from
the rhizome of a plant with yellowish green flowers. The related
ginger plants we see in Hawaii more often have red flowers.
Cup of Gold is a large (7-inch diameter) flower that
is native to Mexico, but often seen in gardens of Hawaiian flowers. It
is not the same as the much smaller cup of gold that is a type of poppy in
California.
Proteas originated in South Africa and
Australia. Because of their unusual shapes, proteas are named after
the Greek god Proteus, who could change his shape. Proteas found in
Hawaii include the following three, called pincushion protea, pink mink, and
king protea.
