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Updated 9/15/2023

Flowers & Plants of Hawaii

Guide to plants of Hawaii & other areas visited by the authors.  Species are sorted by family & flower color, and by distribution status as described below.

Bruce Bohm has an excellent overview of plants one might encounter in Hawaii at Floridata.  It's a great read for botany and natural history enthusiasts.
ENDEMIC: Occurs naturally only in Hawaii

 

INDIGENOUS: Occurs naturally in Hawaii & beyond 

 

POLYNESIAN INTRODUCTION: Brought to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers

 

NATURALIZED: Introduced to Hawaii since Western contact & propagating naturally in the wild

 

CULTIVATED: Introduced to Hawaii since Western contact but not propagating naturally in the wild

 

 

 

FLOWER COLOR

 

RED

 

ORANGE /

BROWN

 

YELLOW

 

GREEN

 

BLUE

 

VIOLET

 

PINK / FUCHSIA

 

WHITE

 

 

PLANT FAMILIES

ACANTHACEAE

Thunbergia Family

 

ADOXACEAE

Muskroot Family

AGAVACEAE

Agave Family

 

AIZOACEAE

Ice Plant Family

ALISMATACEAE

Water Plantain Family

 

AMARANTHACEAE

Amaranth Family

AMARYLLIDACEAE

Amaryllis Family

 

ANACARDIACEAE

Sumac/Mango Family

ANNONACEAE

Custard Apple Family

 

APIACEAE

Parsley Family

APOCYNACEAE

Plumeria Family

 

AQUIFOLIACEAE

Holly Family

ARACEAE

Taro Family

 

ARECACEAE

Palm Family

ARALIACEAE

Octopus Tree Family

 

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE

Calico Flower Family

ASCLEPIADACEAE

Milkweed Family

 

ASPARAGACEAE

Asparagus Family

ASTELIACEAE

Astelia Family

 

ASTERACEAE

Daisy Family

   
BALSAMINACEAE

Balsam / Impatiens Family

 

BATACEAE

Pickleweed Family

BEGONIACEAE

Begonia Family

 

BERBERIDACEAE

Barberry Family

BIGNONIACEAE

Trumpet Tree Family

 

BIXACEAE

Annatto Family

 

BOMBACACEAE

Bombax Family

 

BORAGINACEAE

Heliotrope Family

 

BROMELIADACEAE

Bromeliad Family

 

BRASSICACEAE

Mustard Family

 

BURSERACEAE

Torchwood Family

 

 
   
CACTACEAE

Cactus Family

 

CAMPANULACEAE

Lobelia Family

CANNACEAE

Canna Family

 

CANNABACEAE

Hemp Family

 

CAPPARACEAE

Caper Family

 

CAPRIFOLIACEAE

Honeysuckle Family

CARICACEAE

Papaya Family

 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Pink Family

CASUARINACEAE

Ironwood Family

 

CELASTRACEAE

Bittersweet Family

CHENOPODIACEAE

Goosefoot Family

 

CLUSIACEAE

 

Mangosteen Family

COMBRETACEAE

Combretum Family

 

COMMELINACEAE

Oyster Plant Family

CONVOLVULACEAE

Morning Glory Family

 

CORDIACEAE

Cordia Family

COSTACEAE

Spiral Ginger Family

 

CRASSULACEAE

Jade Plant Family

CUCURBITACEAE

 

Gourd Family

 

CUSCUTACEAE

 

Dodder Family

CYPERACEAE

 

Sedge Family

 

 

   
DIOSCORACEAE

Yam Family

 

 
   
EBENACEAE

Persimmon Family

 

ELAEOCARPACEAE

 

Blue-marble Tree Family

ERICACEAE

Blueberry Family

 

EUPHORBIACEAE

Spurge Family

   
FABACEAE

Bean Family

 

FERNS

 

Ferns

FOUQUIERIACEAE

Ocotillo Family

 
   
GENTIANACEAE

Gentian Family

GERANIACEAE

Geranium Family

 
GESNERIACEAE

 

African Violet Family

GOODENIACEAE

Naupaka Family

   
HELICONIACEAE

 

Heliconia Family

 

HYDRANGEACEAE

Hydrangea Family

 

HYDROCHARITACEAE

Seagrass Family

 

HYPERICACEAE

St. John's Wort Family

 

   
IRIDACEAE

Iris Family

 

 

   
LAMIACEAE

Mint Family

 

LAURACEAE

Laurel Family

LECYTHIDACEAE

Brazil Nut Family

 

LEEACEAE

 

Leea Family

LILIACEAE

Lily Family

 

LINDERNIACEAE

False Pimpernel Family

LOGANIACEAE

 

Kamakahala Family

 

LYTHRACEAE

 

Crape-Myrtle Family

   
MAGNOLIACEAE

 

Magnolia Family

 

MALPIGHIACEAE

Acerola Cherry Family

 

MALVACEAE

Hibiscus Family

 

MARANTACEAE

Arrowroot Family

MARCGRAVIACEAE

Marcgravia Family

 

MELASTOMATACEAE

Melastome Family

MELIACEAE

Mahogany Family

 

MENISPERMACEAE

Moonseed Family

 

MORACEAE

Fig & Banyan Family

 

MORINGACEAE

Drumstick Tree Family

 MOSSES

Bryophytes

 

MUSACEAE

Banana Family

MYOPORACEAE

Bastard Sandalwood Family

 

MYRICACEAE

Bayberry Family

MYRSINACEAE

Kolea Family

 

MYRTACEAE

Eucalyptus Family

   
NYCTAGINACEAE

Four-'o-clock Family

 

NYMPHAEACEAE

Water Lily Family

   
OCHNACEAE

Mickey Mouse Plant Family

 

OLEACEAE

Jasmine Family

 

ONAGRACEAE

Evening Primrose Family

 

ORCHIDACEAE

Orchid Family

OXALIDACEAE

Sorrel Family

 

 
   
PANDANACEAE

Pandanus Family

PAPAVERACEAE

Poppy Family

 

PASSIFLORACEAE

Passion Flower Family

 

PEDALIACEAE

Sesame Family

PHYLLANTHACEAE

Gooseberry Family

PHYTOLACCACEAE

Pokeweed Family

 

PINES

Gymnosperms

 

PIPERACEAE

Pepper Family

PITTOSPORACEAE

Pittosporum Family

PLANTAGINACEAE

Plantago Family

 

PLUMBAGINACEAE

Plumbago Family

POACEAE

Grass Family

 

POLYGALACEAE

Milkwort Family

 

POLYGONACEAE

Buckwheat Family

PONTEDERIACEAE

Water Hyacinth Family

 

PORTULACACEAE

Portulaca Family

 PRIMULACEAE

Primrose Family

 

PROTEACEAE

Protea Family

 

PUNICACEAE

Pomegranate Family

 

 
   
RANUNCULACEAE

Buttercup Family

 

RHAMNACEAE

Buckthorn Family

 

RHIZOPHORACEAE

Mangrove Family

 

ROSACEAE

Rose Family

 

RUBIACEAE

Coffee Family

 

RUTACEAE

Citrus Family

   
SALICACEAE

Willow Family

 

SANTALACEAE

Sandalwood Family

 

SAPINDACEAE

Soapberry Family

 

SAPOTACEAE

Sapodilla Family

SAURURACEAE

Lizard's Tail Family

 

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Snapdragon Family

SMILACACEAE

Catbriar Family

 

SOLANACEAE

Tomato Family

STERCULIACEAE

Cacao Family

 

STRELITZIACEAE

Bird of Paradise Family

SURIANACEAE

Bay Cedar Family

 

 
   
THEACEAE

Camellia Family

 

THYMELAEACEAE

Akia Family

TROPAEOLACEAE

Nasturtium Family

 

TURNERACEAE

Turnera Family

   
URTICACEAE

Nettle Family

 

 
   
VERBENACEAE

Verbena Family

 

VIOLACEAE

Violet Family

VISCACEAE

Mistletoe Family

 

VITACEAE

Grape Family

   
XANTHORRHOEACEAE

Aloe Family

 

 
   
ZINGIBERACEAE

Ginger Family

 

ZYGOPHYLLACEAE

Tribulus Family