Yellow hibiscus (Hibiscus brackenridgei) is the state's official flower. It is an endangered species.
Hawaii's state flower (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) originated in Asia and the Pacific islands. Interestingly, it is also the national flower of Malaysia. This species is a true tropical hibiscus belonging to the Malvaceae, or mallow family.??
Hawaii's original 33 have grown to over 5,000 ~ the result of an intense interest in hybridization prompted in 1872 when Oahu's governor, Archibald Cleghorn, crossbred native Hawaiian hibiscus with foreign species. Like the Hawaii it represents, the hibiscus is a tribute to the islands' vast diversity.
| Kingdom | Plantae – Plants |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta – Vascular plants |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta – Seed plants |
| Division | Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants |
| Class | Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons |
| Subclass | Dilleniidae – |
| Order | Malvales – |
| Family | Malvaceae – Mallow family |
| Genus | Hibiscus L. – rosemallow |
| Species | Hibiscus brackenridgei Gray – Brackenridge's rosemallow |