Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
2 ratings

Wednesday - January 04, 2006

From: Honolulu, HI
Region: Hawaii
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: State flower of Hawaii
Answered by: Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

What color is the state flower of Hawaii?

ANSWER:

Yellow. In 1988 the Hawaii state legislature adopted the yellow-flowered Hawaiian native, Ma'o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei) as its official state flower. Between 1922 and 1988 the entire Hibiscus genus - regardless of species, color and native and non-native alike -- was considered the Hawaiian state flower.

Hawaii's state tree, the Kukui tree (Aleurites moluccana) is the only non-native state tree in America. It is native to Malaysia and western Polynesia. Nevertheless, it is much-used and much-loved by the Hawaiian people.

 

More Plant Identification Questions

Identification of a flower with grape kool aid fragrance
May 17, 2007 - While I lived in Texas someone gave me a flower from a "tree" (i am not sure tree is the right word). It was a large white flower that closed up in the evenings and smelled sweet like grape kool ai...
view the full question and answer

Plant identification
August 04, 2012 - Hello Mr. Smarty Plants! I have a plant that was given to me and told it was spider plant, but I don't believe it is. The plat grows up and has leaves coming out like a spider plant but they are gree...
view the full question and answer

Name of algae on ground that swells after a rain
March 12, 2009 - What is the name of the algae looking stuff on the ground that swells up after rain. I thought it was "nostock" but I can't locate that name anywhere. Thanks!
view the full question and answer

Identification of tree in Ovilla TX area
May 04, 2010 - Can you identify a tall,(wild?) tree covered with fragrant, pink/lavender blooms? Have seen several in the Ovilla area this spring.
view the full question and answer

Plant identification
April 06, 2011 - I'm trying to figure out the name of a plant/shrub purchased a couple years ago. It was a shrub (about medium sized) with yellow blooms that smelled like lemon. I don't think it was lemon balm or le...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.