I received my cutting from the island of Hawaii and the seller called the cutting a white plumeria, and he was right, but I think there is more to the name than just white plumeria, I also received a yellow and pink without names. These are my first flowers from the white and it smells great, November, and I have flowers in my house! I'm thinking it might be polynisian white? what do you think?
well it's a very pretty plumie..i suspect they have so many...that they just refer to them by the colors..perhaps even call it a common white...(no plumies are JUST common..he he)
enjoy them all.....this is my Golden Goddess collage..
Hi Junglebob! Thanks for the reply, that collage is way cool and I like the Golden Goddess Plumie Too. You are probably right they have so many that they just call them by their main colors, I have around five that are named, and wanted to get names for the ones I don't, oh well for now it's just a white Plumie, Maybe a celidine?
Dan
Hi Dan,
It's a beauty with wide petals and a great deal of overlap. It's definitely not Celadine. Celadine has more yellow to the petals and less overlap.
It's tough to identify a plumeria by a picture, and you definitely want to be careful about sticking a cultivar's name onto a plumeria that came to you as unidentified. For the purposes of keeping proper names and keeping the lines pure, some feel (including me) that it is best not to call something by a named and registered cultivar name unless you purchase it as such from a reputable seller. Many people (again, like me) have a bunch of unknown/unnamed plumerias in their yards, and they are no less beautiful or less valuable than the named, registered ones.
When identifying a plumeria, a bunch of things have to be examined such as the leaves -- their length, their thickness, their color, the tips, how they are held, etc. -- the growing habit of the tree -- sprawling, weeping, low growing, high growing, densely branched, openly branched -- and the flowers -- the length of the flower, the width of the petals, fragrance, overlap, the stripe on the back, keeping quality, texture -- among other things. Cultivars, before they are registered, have to have exact measurements in these areas and have to be studied over time before they can be registered. As a good example, here is a good published article, detailing several specific cultivars, and it details some of the characteristics that I just referred to: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/OF-31.pdf
Additionally, sometimes it is very difficult to tell a seedling apart from its parent which is why you wouldn't want to give a cultivar's name to a seedling because they would not be identical genetically and may differ in other nonapparent ways. In Hawaii, plumerias are growing everywhere, and many are unnamed seedlings, and only the ones selected for their uniqueness (supposedly) are registered as named cultivars. It is the same way, I am sure, with roses, orchids, etc.
Now, this is especially important if you intend to trade or sell your plumeria. However, if your plumie is just for your enjoyment, you can examine the details of several name cultivars and compare them to yours. As I said before, flower size and color and fragrance, leaf characteristics, and growth habit are all very important. Some people do this comparison but still put a question mark after the name on their plant tag because there is no way to be absolutely certain that you have a named and registered cultivar since you did not receive it as such.
That being said, your plumeria seems to be similar to one or two named cultivars such as Samoan Fluff (this has a distinct fragrance) or maybe Hausten White (Willows White), but Sherman (Polynesian White) has more yellow in the center. It is too hard to tell without knowing what size the flowers are, etc. Both Samoan Fluff and Hausten White have flowers which are 3 and a half to four inches. Again, I can't stress how important it is to serious plumeria collectors that a cultivar's name not be given to an unknown in order to keep the cultivar's lines true.
Forgot to say that your tropical garden is awesome!
Wow! just another reason I love Dave's Garden Forum, Thanks Clare! it really makes sense what you say and how important it is for us gardeners to keep everything in order and correctly named. I guess the seller of the cuttings I bought was right saying they are white, yellow, and pink and he did me right. I will have fun trying to figure out what my cuttings look like, but if ever I offer cuttings they will only be unknown white, yellow or pink, the rest I have are named and from reputable dealers, (Florida Colors) I will be looking for pictures of the ones you have named and see what they look like- another adventure! Here's a picture of the other side of the pool.
Thanks Dan
Thanks, Dan, for being so nice. I wouldn't want to offend you or anyone by being a stickler about names. I'm glad you get it. You're cool! Florida Colors is wonderful and a very reputable seller. When you get a named variety from them, you can be sure it is what they say it is. They are one of the very best sellers.
Your garden is awesome! I love those brugs, and they look so very happy in those containers. I've got to get some of those with the handles. That is so great. It looks like you've got a little tropical paradise there in Toledo, Ohio:-)
That link I gave you earlier gives detailed information on and shows pictures of the two white cultivars, Samoan Fluff and Hausten White. Look on pages 50 and 52. By the way, how is the fragrance of yours? Some people have reported that Samoan Fluff has an unusual fragrance that you have to get used to. Some people have reported that they don't like it. I've never smelled SF myself yet.
Dan, I can't belive your garden is in Toledo. I didn't even know they had pools in Ohio. I gotta get out more. You're a ... of a gardner!!!!
Thanks Shubunkin, we have to start a little early inside then plant outside, we work a little harder on our tropicals than you lucky people with the more constant temps. All my tropicals, Dahlias, gladiolas and cannas have been dug up and put away for the winter and it is alway's a crap shoot who survives. Oh, by the way, Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes just bought a house in Toledo, Ohio so we should start to be a little more popular, I am sure that their home has a pool too!
Dan
