Kona hybrid plumeria is a Hawaiian cultivar sold under two names, Kona Hybrid and Horace Clay. Sellers describe it as a pink to multicolor bloom about 3.5 inches across. The scent is mild and spicy, and flowering is heavy.
Its flower is thinly documented, so this page separates what is on record from what is only a seller claim. A USDA genebank record ties the two names together and places the plant in the University of Hawaii collection.
Kona Hybrid Plumeria at a Glance
| Trait | Details |
|---|---|
| Color | Listed as pink in one spec table, and as a blend of orange, red, pink, peach, yellow and faint lavender in the description; a genebank record files the flower color as red |
| Flower size | About 3.5 inches; the description says 3.5 to 4 inches |
| Petal shape | Stiff, waxy petals; outline not well documented |
| Fragrance | Mild with a subtle spicy undertone |
| Bloom season | Said to bloom almost continuously through the growing season |
| Growth habit | Medium to medium tall, with thick sturdy branches and a slightly compact, well branched shape |
| Leaf | Not well documented |
| Species or parentage | A plumeria hybrid; parents not well documented |
| Breeder or origin | Hawaii; held in the University of Hawaii plumeria germplasm collection and donated to the USDA genebank in 2000; one seller says it was developed in Kona, which no second source confirms |
| Registration | Not well documented |
Nearly all the flower and growth details come from a single nursery listing at Florida Colors. The only independent data point is the genebank color note, which says red. Treat the table as a starting point and compare it with the plant you actually receive.
What Kona Hybrid Looks Like
The flower
The most useful fact is also the least settled one, which is color. The same listing calls the flower pink in its specs. Its description names a blend of orange, red, pink, peach and yellow with a hint of lavender.
Those statements fit a flower that is pink overall with warm shading. The genebank record files it simply as red, which fits a deep pink or red toned bloom. No one has published a pattern description.
The petals are described as stiff and waxy, with good keeping quality, in large clusters. At about 3.5 inches, this is a medium to large bloom.
Color shifts with heat, flower age and the back of the petal are not well documented. Plumeria color often looks different in cool coastal weather than in strong heat. A photo from a different climate is not a reliable match for your own flower.
Leaves and branches
Leaf shape and size are not well documented. The growth description is a medium tall tree with thick, sturdy branches. It stays slightly compact and branches well.
The spec table puts annual growth at roughly 12 to 24 inches, which is a medium pace.
Kona Hybrid Fragrance
The scent is mild, with a subtle spicy undertone. The listing’s spec table simply says spicy.
Neither version describes strength at different times of day. No one has published a note by note breakdown.
If fragrance is your main reason for choosing a cultivar, ask the seller about a flower from the same plant. Scent differs a lot between climates and between morning and evening.
How to Tell Kona Hybrid Apart From Look Alikes
Pink and warm multicolor plumeria are everywhere, so color alone will not identify kona hybrid plumeria. The clues that count are the stiff waxy petals, the large clusters and the mild spicy scent. The table compares it with two cultivars that have their own pages here.
| Cultivar | Color and pattern | Petal shape | Fragrance | Key tell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona Hybrid | Pink overall, with orange, peach and yellow shading described | Stiff, waxy | Mild, spicy undertone | Heavy, nearly continuous clusters |
| Guillot’s Sunset | Dark pink bands fading to orange | Not stated | Not stated | Distinct pink bands that fade toward orange |
| Kauka Wilder | Saturated warm pink with a bright yellow center | Full, rounded pinwheel | Strong, sweet, fruity | Bold coral leaning pink and a strong scent |
A strong, sweet scent points away from Kona Hybrid, which is described as mild. A clean single pink with a bright yellow throat also points elsewhere. You can browse more options in our guides to pink plumeria and orange plumeria.
Mislabeling is a real risk with a cultivar that has two names and thin records. Plumeria names are reused, and a cutting sold as Kona Hybrid could be an unrelated Hawaiian seedling.
Ask the seller for a flower photo from the same plant. Also ask which name the seller received it under.
Growing Kona Hybrid
Nothing published singles out kona hybrid plumeria for special care. Its cold tolerance, sun sensitivity and container performance are not well documented.
Sturdy branches and a compact shape are what you would plan around. Growers commonly stake any heavily flowering branch, whatever the cultivar.
The heavy bloom habit is a seller claim, not a measured result. Almost every plumeria flowers best with strong sun, a dry winter rest and the right feeding.
Our plumeria care guide covers those basics. None of them are specific to this plant.
Kona Hybrid Origin and History
The two names
The nursery listing is titled Kona Hybrid aka Horace Clay. A USDA plant genebank record backs that up from the other direction.
The record lists a plumeria hybrid named Horace Clay, accession MIA 35630, with the developer identifier Kona Hybrid 26. It was donated from the University of Hawaii germplasm collection in May 2000 as a cutting. That makes Kona Hybrid the working name the plant carried in the university collection, and Horace Clay its cultivar name.
Where the name comes from
A Horace F. Clay is a coauthor of the 1965 University of Hawaii extension circular Hawaiian Plumerias. The circular does not mention a Kona Hybrid.
No published source says the cultivar honors him. The connection is plausible but not documented.
Kona is the western district of the Big Island. The seller says the cultivar was developed by the university in Kona. The genebank record confirms a university collection source but says nothing about Kona.
The university’s cultivar key of 40 major Hawaiian plumeria does not list Kona Hybrid or Horace Clay. The breeder, the year of the cross and any PSA registration are not well documented.
Where to Buy and How to Propagate Kona Hybrid
Kona hybrid plumeria is a nursery plant. The same nursery lists it in its Hawaii collection as grafted plants, rooted plants and several kinds of cuttings.
The listing currently shows it as sold out. Stock changes often, so check that seller, other specialist plumeria nurseries and plumeria society sales.
Because the name is easy to confuse, search both Kona Hybrid and Horace Clay.
Our guide to where to buy plumeria cuttings explains how to judge a seller. How to take plumeria cuttings covers the cutting method. Grafting also works for any cultivar.
Seeds will not grow true. A seed from a hybrid like this produces a new, unpredictable seedling. The only reliable way to get Kona Hybrid is a cutting or graft from a verified plant.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strength: large clusters of waxy, long lasting flowers, according to the seller.
- Strength: sturdy branches and a compact, well branched shape.
- Strength: a mild scent that may suit people who find some plumeria too strong.
- Weakness: color and parentage are described inconsistently.
- Weakness: very little independent description of the flower, and the Kona origin claim is unconfirmed.
- Weakness: limited supply, with the main listing showing sold out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kona hybrid plumeria the same as Horace Clay?
Yes. Sellers list them as one cultivar, Kona Hybrid aka Horace Clay. The USDA genebank record for Horace Clay carries the developer identifier Kona Hybrid 26, so the two names describe one plant from the University of Hawaii collection.
What color is Kona Hybrid plumeria?
One spec table lists pink, while the same seller’s description names orange, red, pink, peach, yellow and faint lavender. Expect a pink flower with warm shading, and check a photo from the plant you are buying.
Does Kona Hybrid come from Kona, Hawaii?
One seller says it was developed by the university in Kona. The genebank record confirms it came from the University of Hawaii collection, but it does not mention Kona. The breeder is not well documented.
Is Kona Hybrid fragrant?
It has a mild scent with a subtle spicy undertone, based on the seller description. It is not described as a strongly perfumed plumeria. Scent also varies with weather and time of day.
Can I grow Kona Hybrid from seed?
You can sprout seed from a hybrid, but the seedling will not match the parent. Use a cutting or graft to get the same flower. See our plumeria varieties hub for other named cultivars.