Lagunaria patersonia
Norfolk island hibiscus, cow itch tree, Cow Itch Tree
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Family: Malvaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Not Native
Lagunaria patersonia (Norfolk island hibiscus) is a non-native California shrub / tree in the Malvaceae family, recognized by Recent introduction - Australian coastal tree species established in southern California coastal environments.
Norfolk island hibiscus is a naturalized shrub found in southern California coastal regions in coastal riparian forest at elevations below 10 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces showy pink to rose-pink flowers that fade to white, with blossoms 3.5 to 8 centimeters in diameter. Growing as an evergreen shrub or small tree 2 to 10 meters tall, it has smooth gray bark and twigs covered in stellate hairs. Its leathery olive-green leaves are 5 to 10 centimeters long, ovate in shape, with dense felty-stellate hairs on the undersides. The fruit is a brown capsule approximately 4 centimeters long, filled with irritant hairs and containing orange to red seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Recent introduction - Australian coastal tree species established in southern California coastal environments
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal riparian forest
Elevation: < 10 m
Outside California: tropics, subtropics, eastern Australia, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island
Bloom period
Lagunaria patersonia blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Rhodomyrtus: Lagunaria has 5 large fleshy petals; Rhodomyrtus has numerous thin stamens radiating from the flower center.; vs Avicennia: Lagunaria has large hibiscus-like flowers; Avicennia has tiny tubular flowers in dense clusters at branch tips.; vs Quercus: Lagunaria has showy pink hibiscus flowers; Quercus has tiny dangling catkins and acorns.; vs Hibiscus: Lagunaria is a tree with fleshy petals and 3-5 bracts that fall off; Hibiscus is herb/shrub with 5-12 persistent bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lagunaria patersonia native to California?
No. Lagunaria patersonia is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lagunaria patersonia bloom?
Lagunaria patersonia blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Lagunaria patersonia belong to?
Lagunaria patersonia is in the Malvaceae family, genus Lagunaria.
What habitat does Lagunaria patersonia grow in?
Lagunaria patersonia grows in Coastal riparian forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.