Jim Little started Little Plumeria Farms in 1973 as a hobby. The location was Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii. Five decades later, his hybridizing work has produced more than 100 named plumeria varieties.
Jim Little plumeria cultivars now circulate through specialty nurseries across the mainland. His farm in Haleiwa is documented as one of the largest collections of rare hybrid plumeria in the world.
What follows sticks to what is actually confirmed about the man and his introductions. The gaps get stated plainly rather than filled in with guesswork.
Who Is Jim Little
Jim Little’s interest in hybridizing began after a lesson from Bill Moragne, an early pioneer of deliberate plumeria cross pollination. That introduction led to his first successful hybrid, a cultivar known as JL Pink Pansy.
From there, Little spent the next five decades crossing plumeria on his Haleiwa property. Hundreds of new color combinations followed. Only a portion of those seedlings were ever formally named.
Detailed personal biography beyond his hybridizing career is thin. His early life and professional background before 1973 are not well documented in gardening trade sources. That gap is worth stating honestly.
The Scale of His Breeding Work
Little Plumeria Farms sits on 20 acres. Press coverage describes it as the largest collection of rare hybrid plumeria anywhere. Over five decades, that work produced more than 100 named varieties, plus dozens more that were never formally registered.
Not every plant Little grew received a name or a Plumeria Society of America registration. Many exist only as numbered seedlings within the farm’s own records. That is normal for a breeding program this large.
Confirmed Jim Little Plumeria Varieties
Several cultivars are documented and sold specifically as Jim Little Farms introductions. Most carry a JL prefix. JL Hawaiian Fire holds Plumeria Society of America registration number 379 from 2005.
It is known for large clusters of multicolor blooms with a sweet scent. JL Dane is named for Little’s grandson and produces yellow flowers with red pointed accents.
JL Kaleidoscope and JL Golden Pagoda both show a ribbon like color pattern across the petals. That pattern shows up on several of his introductions. JL Banana Berry carries pink blooms with a floral scent.
Pupukea Crepe JL shows soft white and pale yellow flowers with crinkled, crepe like edges. JL Metallica is a violet purple cultivar with a grape scented fragrance.
Nurseries selling these plants often describe them as plumeria believed to originate at Jim Little Farms. That careful phrasing is standard across the plumeria trade. It reflects how attribution generally works, not a specific doubt about these introductions.
How Jim Little Plumeria Cuttings Reach Mainland Buyers
Jim Little plumeria varieties reach the mainland mainly through specialty nurseries. These nurseries maintain a dedicated Jim Little collection, sourcing cuttings and grafts from the original Hawaii stock. Availability rotates, and many named cultivars go in and out of stock through the year.
My broader guide to sourcing plumeria cuttings covers what to expect from that buying process in general. The same seasonal and shipping considerations apply whether a cutting comes from Hawaii or a mainland grower.
That hand pollination approach behind these hybrids is the same basic technique covered in my guide to growing plumeria from seed, just applied deliberately instead of left to chance.
The Family Legacy
Little Plumeria Farms is now run by three generations of the Little family. Jim’s son Clark Little, known widely as a wave photographer, works alongside him. Grandson Dane Little manages the farm too.
The farm opened its gardens to public tours starting in 2023. Within a year, USA Today named it the Best New Attraction in America for 2024. That recognition ties directly to the depth of the plumeria collection built over five decades.
Jim Little also documented his own work in a published book, Growing Plumerias in Hawaii and Around the World. It compiles his hybridizing notes alongside care information and photographs from the farm.
That deep connection to the islands ties into the wider role plumeria plays in Hawaiian life. My separate piece on the flower’s place in island culture covers that broader story.
What Is Not Documented
Some details repeated across nursery listings and press coverage are not independently verifiable. The precise total count of named varieties shifts slightly between sources. It generally lands somewhere over 100.
Exact cross records are rarely published for most of these introductions. That means the specific two parent plants behind a given named cultivar. Growers should treat any specific parentage claim with some caution unless a nursery cites its source.
Exploring More Plumeria Varieties
Jim Little’s introductions represent just one corner of a much larger world of named plumeria cultivars. My full directory of colors and named types is a useful next stop for comparing his hybrids against other breeding lines.
Growers interested specifically in harder to find, small production cultivars should see my notes on collecting less common varieties. Many Jim Little plumeria introductions fit squarely into that rare and limited category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jim Little in the plumeria world?
Jim Little founded Little Plumeria Farms in 1973 on Oahu’s North Shore. He has hybridized more than 100 named plumeria varieties over five decades.
What plumeria varieties did Jim Little breed?
Documented introductions include JL Hawaiian Fire, JL Dane, JL Kaleidoscope, JL Golden Pagoda, JL Banana Berry, Pupukea Crepe JL, and JL Metallica, among others sold under the Jim Little name.
Where is Little Plumeria Farms located?
The farm sits on 20 acres in Haleiwa, on Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii. It has offered public tours since 2023.
How can I buy Jim Little plumeria varieties?
Specialty nurseries that carry a dedicated Jim Little collection sell cuttings and grafts sourced from the original Hawaii stock. Availability varies by cultivar and season.
Did Jim Little write a book about plumeria?
Yes. He wrote Growing Plumerias in Hawaii and Around the World, which covers his hybridizing work alongside general plumeria care information.