Flower profile

Indian tulip tree

Thespesia populnea

Indian tulip tree (Thespesia populnea) is a shrub or small tree in the Malvaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states.

Not native to Hawaii

Indian tulip tree is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states.

2states where USDA records it

2,398HI sightings*

3,733U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Hawaii

Quick look

Thespesia populnea, commonly known as the portia tree, Pacific rosewood, Indian tulip tree, or milo, among other names, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is a tree found commonly on coasts around the world. Although it is confirmed to be native only to the Old World tropics, other authorities consider it to have a wider, possibly pantropical native distribution.
From Wikipedia's article Thespesia populnea, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Malvaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Hawaii. ^NatureServe
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 30 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 2,398 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #12 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Hawaii (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (18 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Hawaii: Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Hawaii. ^{HAR 13-107}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Indian tulip tree in 2 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Florida, Hawaii.

Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Indian tulip tree a medium shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to 31 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range: 6.0 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: 31 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 365
Annual precipitation range: 20 to 100 inches
Minimum root depth: 48 inches
Salinity tolerance: Medium
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Long
Active growth period: Year Round
Fruit or seed: Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for THPO3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Native; Puerto Rico: Introduced; U.S. Virgin Islands: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 27 counties across 4 states; the most are in Palau (12), Florida (8), Hawaii (4).

More from the Malvaceae family (29 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Turk's cap, Common hibiscus, Swamp rose mallow, Velvetleaf, Dwarf mallow, Apricot globemallow, Checkerbloom, Scarlet globemallow.

More Hawaii flowers

Yellow ʻilima

Sida fallax

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: January–December

Sea hibiscus

Hibiscus tiliaceus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in HI: June–December

Sleepy morning

Waltheria indica

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: October–December

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile THPO3.
iNaturalist, Thespesia populnea: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Thespesia populnea (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Thespesia populnea (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Erik via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.