Cerise plumeria dates to the early 1900s in Hawaii, according to the University of Hawaii cultivar key. The key names only one other cultivar from that period, the evergreen Singapore plumeria, which is a different species. That makes Cerise a genuine old timer.
Today it gets little attention, and almost nothing has been written about it beyond a few short descriptions. This guide pulls those together, shows where they disagree, and says plainly what nobody has documented.
If you are sorting pinks from reds, our plumeria varieties guide shows where this plant sits among the rest.
Cerise Plumeria at a Glance
| Trait | Details |
|---|---|
| Color | Moderate red with a small yellow center and red bands on the back (Hawaii key); vibrant pink with a small yellow center (Singapore listing) |
| Flower size | About 3.25 inches across |
| Petal shape | Narrow, elliptical, twisted, pointed tip, slightly overlapping |
| Fragrance | Slight, sweet |
| Bloom season | April to October, moderate production in large clusters (Hawaii); free flowering all year (Singapore) |
| Growth habit | Upright with open branching; suitable for landscaping |
| Leaf | Light green with long, tapered (acuminate) tips |
| Species or parentage | Plumeria rubra form rubra |
| Breeder or origin | Imported to Hawaii in the early 1900s; breeder not well documented |
| Registration | Not well documented |
Two sources describe this plant in any detail, and they differ on color and bloom season. Those differences are explained below.
What Cerise Plumeria Looks Like
The flowers
The Hawaii key calls the flower a moderate red with a small, brilliant yellow center. Strong red bands mark the back of each petal. That makes the flower look darker from behind.
Petals are narrow and elliptical with a pointed tip. They twist a little and overlap only slightly. The bloom looks more open than a wide petaled cultivar.
The key gives the flower size as 3.25 inches across and rates its keeping quality as fair. The stalk is dark red and hairy, and the loose flower clusters hang down rather than standing upright.
The color question
The Singapore listing calls the same cultivar a vibrant pink with a small yellow center. The Hawaii key calls it a moderate red. Both agree on the yellow center.
Plumeria color in the red to pink range depends on heat, light and the age of the bloom. Hot weather often deepens reds, while cool weather and strong sun can shift them toward pink.
Which factor explains the gap here is not documented. Judge the color by photos of the actual plant.
Leaves and branches
The leaves are light green and end in a long, tapered tip. Singapore describes them as elliptic and leathery, clustered toward the branch ends.
The branches are upright and open rather than dense. The Hawaii key calls the plant suitable for landscaping. The Singapore listing gives a height of up to 8 meters.
Cerise Plumeria Fragrance
Both sources agree the scent is sweet. The Hawaii key rates it as a slight fragrance, so this is not a plant to buy for perfume.
Scent varies with temperature and time of day, and flowers usually smell strongest in the early morning and evening. If scent matters most to you, pick a cultivar rated as strongly fragrant instead.
How to Tell Cerise Plumeria Apart From Look Alikes
| Cultivar | Color and pattern | Petal shape | Fragrance | Key tell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerise | Moderate red, small brilliant yellow center, strong red bands on back | Narrow, elliptical, twisted, pointed | Slight, sweet | Narrow twisted petals with light green tapered leaves |
| Japanese Lantern (Flower Basket) | Moderate strong red, small brilliant yellow center | Narrow, elliptical, tips twist downward | Slight, sweet | Poor texture; petals curl down |
| Irma Bryan | Moderate strong red, small pale orange yellow center | Wide | Not documented in the key entry used | Paler center; smaller flower, about 2.5 inches |
| Royal Hawaiian (Plastic Pink) | Deep pink, small brilliant yellow center | Wide, obovate, rounded tip | Mild lemon | Wide rounded petals and a lemon scent |
| Duke | Strong red and strong pink, small brilliant yellow center | Wide, rounded tip | Strong, sweet | Larger flower, about 3.5 inches, and a strong scent |
Japanese Lantern is the closest match, because it also has narrow twisting petals and the same slight sweet scent. The key separates the two mainly by texture and by how the petals hang.
Wide petals rule Cerise out.
A deep pink flower with broad rounded petals is probably Royal Hawaiian or a similar plant. Red and pink cultivars with yellow centers are often mislabeled.
Ask the seller for a photo of the parent plant.
One more name to watch is Brad’s Cerise. A retailer lists it as a neon red from the USA, with 3 to 3.5 inch blooms and long, thin petals. The listing does not say whether it is the old Hawaiian Cerise.
Do not assume it is.
Growing Cerise Plumeria
For watering, feeding and soil, follow our plumeria care guide. What is specific here is short.
- Vigor and shape: The habit is upright and open. Expect an airy plant rather than a dense, rounded one.
- Bloom habit: Hawaii reports moderate flower production from April to October, carried in large clusters. Singapore reports bloom through the year, which likely reflects its constant warmth.
- Sun and soil: Singapore lists full sun, moderate water and well drained soil, which is standard plumeria practice.
- Pests and disease: Singapore lists mealybugs, sooty mold and leaf rust. Root rot can follow poor drainage.
- Cold tolerance and container suitability: Not well documented. Treat it like any other Plumeria rubra and protect it from frost.
The large flower clusters are the reason the Hawaii key recommends it for home gardens. Fair keeping quality means the cut flowers fade sooner than those of the best lei cultivars.
Origin and History
The key lists Cerise among introduced cultivars established in Hawaii. It says the plant was imported in the early 1900s.
It gives no breeder, exact year, collector or source country.
No registry number is documented either.
The key records the parentage as Plumeria rubra form rubra. Singapore calls it a cultivar of horticultural origin, not native there. It says nothing more about where it began.
Why it carries the name Cerise is not documented. Cerise is the French word for cherry, and in English it also names a deep pinkish red.
The key recommends this cultivar for home gardens because of its large clusters of flowers.
Where to Buy and How to Propagate
Cerise is not a common catalog item. Rooted plants labeled Brad’s Cerise have appeared at Brad’s Buds and Blooms, and the same shop has listed Cerise seed.
The old Hawaiian plant and the Brad’s selection may or may not be the same. Ask any seller for bloom photos and the cutting’s source.
Our guide on where to buy plumeria cuttings covers what to ask before you order. Cuttings are the reliable route, and our guide on how to take plumeria cuttings walks through it.
Singapore also lists grafting and air layering. You can read about all the methods in how to propagate plumeria. Seed will not grow true, so a seedling is not Cerise plumeria.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths: a long history in Hawaii, a small yellow center, sweet scent, large flower clusters and an upright, open form.
- Weaknesses: slight fragrance, fair keeping quality, only moderate bloom in Hawaii and conflicting color reports.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cerise plumeria red or pink?
Sources disagree. The Hawaii key says moderate red, and the Singapore listing says vibrant pink. Check photos, because heat and light shift this range.
Our red plumeria and pink plumeria guides cover both groups.
How big are Cerise flowers?
The Hawaii key gives about 3.25 inches across. A retailer’s Brad’s Cerise is listed at 3 to 3.5 inches. Treat both as approximate.
When does it bloom?
The Hawaii key says April to October, with moderate production. Singapore says it flowers all year. Expect the warm months in most climates.
Does Cerise have a strong scent?
No. Both sources describe a sweet scent, and the Hawaii key rates it as slight. It will not rival the strongest scented cultivars.
Can I grow Cerise from seed?
You can sow its seed if your plant sets pods. The seedlings will vary and will not be true Cerise. Use cuttings or grafting to keep the cultivar.