Quick answer: Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima) (Abutilon menziesii) is native to 1 state. What's commonly sold under this name is the true wild species. No live listing of the true species was found as of 24 Oct 2026.
Photo: David Eickhoff from Pearl City, Hawaii, USA, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Where it's native
Listed in the directory as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Dry |
| Soil | Rocky lowland dry soils |
| Bloom | Bloom Year-round |
| Height | 3-8 ft |
| Wildlife value | Native bees |
Buying it
No live listing of the true wild species was found as of 24 Oct 2026 — that means our last search didn't surface one, not that the plant is unavailable.
No live seed or plant listing found as of 24 Oct 2026. That means our last search didn't surface one — not that the plant is unavailable. Try a regional native-plant nursery.
Quick answers about Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima)
Where is Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima) native?
Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima) (Abutilon menziesii) is native to Hawaii. Check your state's page in this directory for the full list of plants native where you live.
When does Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima) bloom?
Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima) blooms Year-round. Exact timing shifts a few weeks with latitude and elevation.
What growing conditions does Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima) need?
Light: Sun. Water: Dry. Soil: Rocky lowland dry soils. Mature height: 3-8 ft.
Is Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima) good for pollinators and wildlife?
Yes. Wildlife value: Native bees.
Is Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima) deer-resistant or drought-tolerant?
Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima) is drought-tolerant.
Where can I buy Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima)?
We haven't found an online listing of the true wild species as of 24 Oct 2026. A regional native-plant nursery or native seed company is your best source; ask for Abutilon menziesii by its scientific name.
Similar native plants
Native plants that share growing conditions or range with Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima).
- Hinahina kū kahakai Heliotropium anomalum
- Maʻo hau hele (Hawaiian yellow hibiscus) Hibiscus brackenridgei
- Nehe Lipochaeta succulenta
- Pōhinahina (beach vitex) Vitex rotundifolia
- Pōhuehue (beach morning glory) Ipomoea pes-caprae
- Wiliwili Erythrina sandwicensis
Also listed under
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