Quick answer: Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton) (Gossypium tomentosum) 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: Forest & Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
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 | Sandy or rocky coastal soils |
| Bloom | Bloom Year-round |
| Height | 1-5 ft |
| Wildlife value | Host for native moths |
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 Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton)
Where is Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton) native?
Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton) (Gossypium tomentosum) is native to Hawaii. Check your state's page in this directory for the full list of plants native where you live.
When does Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton) bloom?
Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton) blooms Year-round. Exact timing shifts a few weeks with latitude and elevation.
What growing conditions does Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton) need?
Light: Sun. Water: Dry. Soil: Sandy or rocky coastal soils. Mature height: 1-5 ft.
Is Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton) good for pollinators and wildlife?
Yes. Wildlife value: Host for native moths.
Is Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton) deer-resistant or drought-tolerant?
Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton) is drought-tolerant.
Where can I buy Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton)?
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 Gossypium tomentosum by its scientific name.
Similar native plants
Native plants that share growing conditions or range with Maʻo (Hawaiian cotton).
- Florida hopbush Dodonaea viscosa
- Hinahina kū kahakai Heliotropium anomalum
- Koʻoloaʻula (red ʻilima) Abutilon menziesii
- Maʻo hau hele (Hawaiian yellow hibiscus) Hibiscus brackenridgei
- Naio Myoporum sandwicense
- Nehe Lipochaeta succulenta
Also listed under
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