Family: Asteraceae

Kōʻokoʻolau is a Hawaiʻi Island endemic perennial herb with thick dark green oblong leaves. Leaves have serrate margins and are pubescent along the vein. When flowering, there will be 10-25 heads in a compound cyme that terminates at the main stem. Each flower head has 7-10 yellow ray florets and 22-32 darker yellow disk florets. Similar to others in the sunflower (Asteraceae) family. Kōʻokoʻolau blooms year round and particularly in October. Fruit is a black straight achene. Mature plants grow more than 3 feet tall and more than 6 feet wide. Bidens hawaiensis is one of 19 Hawaiʻi endemic species of Bidens. All of which can hybridize, therefore we recommend growing whichever species is native to your region or island.

Habitat & Uses

Kōʻokoʻolau is endemic to Hawaiʻi Island and can be found scattered in open shrubland and mesic forests from 165 to 6400 feet in elevation. It’s known to be found in Kohala and Puna, especially around Kīlauea. This herb is today more commonly known in its brewed tea form, which has a subtler taste than commercial black tea. Pinching off a few leaves to brew can provide health benefits and produces a fuller plant. The flowers only last a couple days and are not fragrant, but you could use them in floral arrangements and lei. Traditional medicinal uses of kōʻokoʻolau include treatment of ʻea (infectious disease), pāʻaoʻao (latent childhood disease), cleansing/ purification, appetite restoration, kohepopo (vaginal issues), stomach troubles, and asthma.

Landscaping & Cultivation

Add kōʻokoʻolau as an easy accent or container plant to any landscape. They make a great native alternative for marigolds and cosmos as they have similar growth habits. Place them in full sun, well-drained soils, and moist areas. Adding mulch has shown great benefits for kōʻokoʻolau as they can tolerate poor soils, but thrive in soils with high organic matter. They are very easy to care for in the landscape, just needing occasional pruning if it gets unruly. They work great in containers (1-2 gallon pots) because they are not long-lived so the whole plant will need to be replaced every 2-5 years. Additionally, this plant propagates readily and grows quickly, which makes it easy to grow but some consider it weedy.

Propagation can be done by cuttings, but sowing seeds is a better option as they develop a stronger root system which can prevent plants from falling over when they mature. Surface sown seeds usually germinate in about two weeks and are ready to transplant when 4-6 inches tall. If you sow seeds directly into a garden or landscaping, seedlings will need protection from slugs and snails. When mature, you should look out for aphids and mealy bug pests. Bidens hawaiensis can reach up to six feet when mature, so please leave enough space between plants. You can also choose to prune back your kōʻokoʻolau to encourage branching and new growth.

Name Origins

The ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi kōʻokoʻolau can be broken down in various ways. Koʻokoʻo can mean cane, staff, or a means of livelihood. Kōkoʻo means partnership or companion. Koʻo by itself can mean a brace, support, strength. Lau has many meanings including leaf, leaflet, frond or to be numerous. So when you look at the name as a whole, kōʻokoʻolau can refer to the plantʻs hardiness, utility, and productivity. The strong branches of the kōʻokoʻolau can support not only the numerous lau or leaves of the plant, but also the many uses that Hawaiian society found for this plant. The scientific name Bidens refers to the collective bristles on the fruit achenes. Hawaiensis denotes this species endemism to Hawaiʻi Island.

Plant Uses:

• Container plant
• Cultural significance
• Edible
• Medicinal
• Ornamental
• Specimen

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers