Norfolk Island Hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonii): Pyramid Tree with Pink Flowers

Lagunaria patersonii, known as Norfolk Island Hibiscus, Cow Itch Tree, Pyramid Tree, or Queensland Pyramid Tree, is a pyramidal, evergreen tree with hibiscus-like pink flowers and irritating seed pods. It's a distinctive coastal tree.

Botanical Profile

Culture & Caution

Native to Norfolk Island and coastal Queensland, this tree grows 30–50 feet tall with a dense, pyramidal crown. The leaves are leathery, olive-green. The 1.5-inch flowers are pink, fading to white, with a central staminal column—hibiscus-like. The seed capsules are covered in fine, irritating hairs ("cow itch")—handle with care.

It thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and tolerates salt spray, wind, and drought. Hardy in zones 9–11. Use as a street tree, windbreak, or specimen in coastal gardens. The form is uniquely symmetrical. A tough, beautiful tree for warm, seaside climates—with a prickly surprise in the pods.