Hibiscus brackenridgei, a member of the mallow family (Malvaceae), is a sprawling to erect shrub or small tree up to 5 m (16 ft) tall. Most plant parts (young branches, leaves, and some flower parts) vary in the degree of hairiness. The leaves, about 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 in) long and equally wide, have 3 to 7 lobes but are generally heart-shaped in outline. Beneath each leafstalk is a pair of very thin stipules (leaf-like appendages), 5 to 15 mm (0.2 to 0.6 in) long, which fall off early in development, leaving an elliptic scar. Flowers are borne singly or in small clusters. The petals, between 3.5 and 8 cm (1.4 and 3.1 in) long, are yellow, usually with a maroon spot in the center of the flower. Each triangular calyx lobe is reddish to yellow, and usually has a raised, elongated gland on the midrib. Seven to 10 bracts are attached below the calyx. The staminal column, which has anthers attached to the upper three-fourths or nearly to the base, extends beyond the petals. The fruits are somewhat round or oval capsules 1.1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) long, which have a beak-like appendage at one end. Hibiscus brackenridgei ssp. mokuleianus is a tree with a calyx 2.5 to 4 cm (1 to 1.6 in) long, involucral bracts 18 to 25 mm (0.7 to 1 in) long, and maroon-spotted petals 6 to 8 cm (2.4 to 3 in) long. Plants are spiny-hirsute with simple, pustular-based hairs. The midvein gland, if present, is hidden by the dense, pustulate bases of the hairs. Hibiscus brackenridgei ssp. molokaiana fits closely with the description for H. brackenridgei ssp. brackenridgei.