Also known as Kauai Kokio, Kauai Tree Cotton, Kokiʻo
Kauaʻi treecotton is a rare, deciduous dry-forest tree adapted to the steep, erosion-prone canyon ridges of western Kauaʻi. Its broad, maple-like leaves drop during arid stretches, making way for solitary, spectacular scarlet flowers that cup nectar deeply for native honeycreeper bill shapes. Severe habitat degradation caused by introduced ungulates and invasive plant competition has brought this magnificent island endemic to the edge of extinction in the wild.
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotoautotrophic
Predators
Feral goat
Black rat
Mule deer
ThreatsFeral goat browsing, rat seed predation, wildfire, invasive weed encroachment
HabitatsLowland dry and mesic forests, canyon gulches
Life span30–60 years
Classification
FamilyMalvaceae
SpeciesKokia kauaiensis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognized by its five-lobed leaves, pale gray bark, and large, solitary crimson flowers perched near branch tips.
Support conservation
Do not touch, prune, or collect seeds from wild specimens, and avoid straying off designated ridges in protected reserves.
Responsible observation
Botanical gardens: View cultivated, safeguarded specimens at the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauaʻi instead of seeking vulnerable wild trees.
Biosecurity: Clean boots and hiking equipment thoroughly to prevent spreading destructive fungal pathogens and weed seeds into native forest remnants.
Observation distance: Stay on marked paths if encountering wild individuals to prevent soil erosion around their delicate root zones.
