Decoding Plumeria Flower Colors: A Comprehensive Guide

This guide offers a comprehensive key to identifying 40 major plumeria cultivars based on their prominent petal color. Each cultivar is accompanied by additional information regarding its characteristics, fragrance, leaves, and growth. The color determinations have been made using the Munsel Hue system of the Nickerson Color Fan. In instances of synonyms, the more commonly used name is presented first, with any alternate names in parentheses.

Red Varieties

1. Strong Red
   • Scott Pratt (Kohala): Dark red with black-red radiating from the center. Petals are approximately 2.5 inches in diameter with narrow, moderately overlapping structure. Slight spicy scent. Leaves measure 8–9 inches in length and are dark green with dark red veins. Tree grows 1-2 feet per year. Notable for its good keeping quality. Registration # 093.
   • Hilo Beauty: Dark red with a gold center. Flower size ranges from 3.5 to 4 inches in diameter. Petals are wide, slightly overlapping, and exude a mild spicy scent. Leaves are 11–12 inches long with a blue-green appearance. Tall, upright growth habit, but pruning may result in dieback. Registration # 132.
   • Schmidt Red: Flower diameter is around 2.5 inches with narrow, moderately overlapping petals. Slight spicy scent. Leaves are 8–9 inches long and exhibit green color with dark red veins.
2. Moderate Strong Red
   • Cerise: Petals are about 3.25 inches in diameter, slightly overlapping. Fragrance is slightly sweet. Leaves measure 12–13 inches.
   • Japanese Lantern (Flower Basket): Petals are approximately 3 inches in diameter. Narrow petals, slightly overlapping, with tips twisted downward. Mild sweet fragrance. Leaves range from 13–15 inches.
   • Donald Angus: Flower size is 3 inches in diameter with wide, moderately overlapping petals. Mild sweet scent. Leaves measure 13–14 inches.
3. Strong Reddish-Yellow
   • Kauka Wilder: Petals are 3 inches in diameter with a narrow, slightly overlapping structure, and a strong sweet scent. Leaves are 16–17 inches long.
4. A blend of Strong Red and Strong Pink
   • Duke: Flower diameter is 3.5 inches with broad, moderately overlapping petals, and a strong sweet scent. Leaves measure 18–19 inches.

Pink Varieties

1. Deep Pink
   • Kaneohe Sunburst: Flower diameter is approximately 3.75 inches with narrow petals, slightly overlapping. Mild sweet fragrance. Leaves measure 13–14 inches.
   • Plastic Pink (Royal Hawaiian): Petals are 3 inches in diameter. Wide, moderately overlapping petals with a mild lemon scent. Leaves are 16–17 inches.
2. Moderate Pink
   • Grove Farm: Flower diameter is 4.5 inches with wide, moderately overlapping petals. Slight sweet scent. Leaves measure 15–16 inches.
   • Moir: Petals are around 3.25 inches in diameter, with wide, moderately overlapping structure. Mild lemon fragrance. Leaves are 15–16 inches.
   • Mela Matson: Flower size is 3.25 inches in diameter with wide, moderately overlapping petals. Slight lemon scent. Leaves range from 13–16 inches.
   • Dean Conklin: Petals vary from 3.5 to 4.5 inches in diameter with long, slightly overlapping structure. Base color is salmon-orange, with a faint spicy carnation scent. Leaves measure 15–16 inches.
3. Pale Pink
   • Tillie Hughes: Flower diameter is 3.25 inches with narrow, moderately overlapping petals. Slightly sweet fragrance. Leaves are 18–19 inches.
4. Blend of Moderate Pink and White
   • Espinda: Petals are 3.25 inches in diameter, with wide, moderately overlapping structure. Slight sweet scent. Leaves measure 16–19 inches.
   • Maui Beauty (Manoa Beauty): Flower diameter is 3.25 inches with wide petals, moderately overlapping. Slight lemon scent. Leaves are 15–18 inches.
   • Loretta: Petals range from 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter, with wide, moderately overlapping structure. Slight sweet fragrance. Leaves measure 17–18 inches.
   • Tomlinson: Flower size is 3 inches in diameter, with wide, moderately overlapping petals. Slight sweet scent. Leaves range from 17–18 inches.
   • Carmen: Petals vary from 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter, with wide, moderately overlapping structure. Slight sweet scent. Leaves measure 13–14 inches.
   • Ruffles (Vanda): Flower diameter is 2 inches with wide, wavy petal margins, moderately overlapping. Slight sweet fragrance. Leaves are 13–14 inches.

Yellow Varieties

1. Brilliant Yellow
   • Puu Kahea (OSullivan, Fiesta): Flower diameter is 4.25 inches with long and narrow petals, twisted and slightly overlapping. Mild lemon scent. Leaves measure 15–16 inches.
   • Nebels Rainbow: Petals are around 3.5 inches in diameter, with wide, moderately overlapping structure. Slight sweet scent. Leaves are 16–17 inches.
   • Lurline: Flower size varies from 3.5 to 4 inches in diameter with long, moderately overlapping petals. Orange throat. Spicy fragrance. Leaves measure 14–15 inches.
2. Wide, Strong Red Bands on Front and Back
   • Pauahi Alii: Petals are 3.25 inches in diameter, with narrow, slightly overlapping structure. Lemon scent. Leaves are 13–14 inches.
3. Wide, Strong Pink Bands on Front and Back
   • Kimo: Flower diameter is 3 inches with wide petals, highly overlapping. Slight lemon scent. Leaves are 13–14 inches.

White Varieties

1. White
   • Sherman (Polynesian White): Flower diameter is 4.5 inches with wide, slightly overlapping petals. Slight sweet scent. Leaves measure 17–19 inches.
   • Singapore: Petals are around 3.5 inches in diameter, with wide petals and no overlapping. Strong lemon scent. Leaves are 13–14 inches with a dark green, glossy appearance.
   • Dwarf Singapore: Flower size is 1.5 inches in diameter with wide petals, highly overlapping, and forming a cupped shape. Lemon scent. Leaves range from 6–7 inches in length with a light green, semi-glossy appearance.
2. Pink Bands on the Back
   • Hausten White (Willows White): Flower diameter varies from 3.5 to 4 inches with wide, moderately overlapping petals. Slight sweet scent. Leaves measure 17–19 inches.
   • Elena: Petals are around 3.75 inches in diameter with wide, moderately overlapping structure. Slight sweet fragrance. Leaves measure 14–15 inches.
   • Samoan Fluff (Tahitian White): Flower size is 3.5 inches in diameter with wide petals, highly overlapping. Slight sweet scent. Leaves range from 16–17 inches.
   • Daisy Wilcox: Petals are 4.5 inches in diameter with wide petals, slightly overlapping. Pink tips with a strong yellow center. Light pink shade on the back of petals. Spicy scent. Leaves measure 16–18 inches.
3. Strong Red Bands on the Back
   • Madame Poni (Star, Corkscrew, Curly Holt, Waianae Beauty): Petals are 3.5 inches in diameter, narrow with a twist along the length, sometimes trough-shaped. Slight sweet scent. Leaves measure 14–15 inches.
   • White Shell: Flower size is 1 inch in diameter, partially opened bud with a white base color. Narrow petals are partially unfurled. Strong sweet scent. Leaves are 12–13 inches long.
   • Peachglow Shell: Petals are 1 inch in diameter, partially opened bud with a yellow-orange base color. Narrow petals are partially unfurled. Strong sweet fragrance. Leaves measure 12–18 inches.

Orange Varieties

1. Orange
   • Orange and Pink: Madame Poni (Star, Corkscrew, Curly Holt, Waianae Beauty) – Petals are 3.5 inches in diameter with a narrow structure and a twist along the length. Sometimes trough-shaped petals. Slight sweet scent. Leaves measure 14–15 inches.

Violet/Purple Varieties

1. Violets and Purples
   • Black Purple: Petals are 3.5 inches in diameter with a wide, moderately overlapping structure and a slight sweet scent. Leaves measure 12–14 inches.

Rainbow/Multi-Color Varieties

1. Rainbows
   • Orange and Pink: Madame Poni (Star, Corkscrew, Curly Holt, Waianae Beauty) – Petals have a narrow structure with a twist along the length, sometimes trough-shaped. Slight sweet scent. Leaves measure 14–15 inches.

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