Kenaf is a warm season annual fiber plant closely related to cotton and okra and can be successfully grown in a large portion of the United States, particularly in southern states.  Traditionally, kenaf has been cultivated as a cordage crop to produce rope, twine, and sackcloth.

Currently, Kenaf is grown commercially for fiber production in many areas of the world- India, Pakistan,  Africa, China, Indonesia, Russia, Mexico, the Phillippines, Cuba and the United States- with the largest producer being China.  In the United States, Kenaf production is located in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and California; areas like the lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas provide optimal growing conditions for a Kenaf crop. More than 4,000 acres of Kenaf have been reported in the United States.  Kenaf is propagated by seed and must be replanted yearly. Kenaf grows quickly to heights of 12-18 ft in four to five months.   Depending on the location, the Kenaf stem yields 5-12 dry tons/acre.   Selection and breeding have resulted in varieties with higher fiber yields, improved disease resistance, and reduced branching.