Paul Weissich plumeria is a Hawaiian cultivar with golden yellow and orange flowers, sold by some nurseries under the alias Orange Bouquet. It is named for the man who directed Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu for more than three decades. Sellers describe a soft peachy scent and a flower of about 3 inches.
Its paper trail is thin. This guide separates what sellers agree on from what nobody has published. For the wider field of colors, see our plumeria varieties guide.
Paul Weissich Plumeria at a Glance
| Trait | Details |
|---|---|
| Color | Golden yellow base with an orange center, orange pink veining and faint red edges; one nursery lists it simply as orange with pink edging |
| Flower size | About 3 inches in one listing’s specifications; the text of the same listing says 3 to 4 inches |
| Petal shape | Large and rounded, moderately overlapping (one source) |
| Fragrance | Soft, fresh, peachy and light (one source) |
| Bloom season | Rated a good bloomer; the months are not well documented |
| Growth habit | Upright and vigorous, medium growth of about 12 to 24 inches per year (one source) |
| Leaf | Green, elliptical, with pointed tips (one source) |
| Species or parentage | Not well documented |
| Breeder or origin | Hawaii; the breeder is not well documented |
| Registration | Not well documented; no Plumeria Society of America number appears in any listing |
Two plant sellers and a plumeria society tribute describe this plant, and they agree on a yellow and orange flower from Hawaii. Petal shape, scent and growth rate come from a single seller. Treat them as trade descriptions, not measurements.
What Paul Weissich Plumeria Looks Like
The flowers
The fullest description gives a golden yellow base with an orange center. Orange pink veins run through the petals, and the edges can carry a faint red line. The same seller sees rose, peach, orange and lavender tones blended together.
Another nursery describes the flower as orange with pink edging. The society tribute calls it a lovely yellow and orange plumeria. Those descriptions stress different colors, as is common for a bloom that shifts with heat and age.
How the color changes as the flower ages is not documented. Neither is the effect of hot or cool weather. Judge a plant by its own blooms rather than by a catalog photo.
The petals are large and rounded, with moderate overlap. One seller notes good keeping quality and suggests it for lei making. That is a single source claim, so expect typical plumeria flower life.
Leaves and branches
The leaves are described as green and elliptical with pointed tips. The habit is upright and vigorous, and the plant is said to form large flower clusters. Mature height and leaf length are not well documented.
Fragrance
The scent is soft, fresh and delicate, with a light fruity, peach quality. That is the only fragrance description published. It reads as a gentle perfume rather than a strong one.
Scent shifts with weather and time of day, so judge a bloom early or late. If scent is your priority, look for cultivars with stronger documented perfumes.
How to Tell Paul Weissich Plumeria Apart From Look Alikes
Many Hawaiian cultivars share a yellow or orange center, so this one is easy to confuse. The table compares it with three plants described by sellers and the University of Hawaii cultivar key.
| Cultivar | Color and pattern | Petal shape | Fragrance | Key tell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Weissich | Golden yellow base, orange center, orange pink veins, faint red edges | Large, rounded, moderately overlapping | Soft, peachy | Orange dominates with only light pink or red at the edges |
| Kimo | Strong orange yellow with moderate pink bands on front and back | Wide, round tipped, highly overlapping | Slight lemon | Clear pink band down the back of each petal |
| Donald Angus | Moderate strong red with a large orange yellow center and strong red bands | Wide, oval, round tipped | Mild sweet | Much redder outer petals |
| Kaneohe Sunrise | Rainbow blend of red, orange, pink and yellow over a golden orange center | Ovate, thick, slightly to moderately overlapping (one seller) | Mild peachy (one seller) | Thin red lines radiate from the center like a starburst |
The quick test is the balance of color. Paul Weissich leans orange and yellow. Kimo adds a distinct pink back band, Donald Angus is much redder, and Kaneohe Sunrise shows red starburst lines over a multicolor blend.
Compare our Kimo plumeria profile if the two look alike on a tag.
The cultivar key does not list Paul Weissich, so there is no official description to check a plant against. Labels also get mixed up in the trade. Ask for a photo of the parent plant in bloom, and see our orange plumeria guide for other orange cultivars.
Growing Paul Weissich Plumeria
For watering, soil, feeding and sun, follow our plumeria care guide. Little is documented about its needs, so general plumeria care is the safe baseline.
- Vigor: One seller lists medium growth, about 12 to 24 inches a year, and calls the plant vigorous and upright. That is a seller estimate, not a measured result.
- Bloom habit: The same listing rates it a good bloomer. It also says the cultivar has been critiqued as a stingy bloomer in some regions. No source explains why.
- Containers: No seller addresses pots. Medium growth makes containers workable, and growing plumeria in containers covers sizing and repotting.
- Heat, sun and cold: Sun sensitivity and cold tolerance are not well documented, so protect it from cold as you would any plumeria.
Origin and History
The name honors Paul Weissich, who directed Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu from 1957 to 1989. The Plumeria Society of America recorded that he grew the garden from 5 acres to 14 acres of native plants. It also credits him with developing the Koko Crater site, which holds a large plumeria collection.
One nursery says the cultivar was named by Little and Criley in his honor. The listing gives no first names, and no other source repeats the credit.
The same listing says Angus donated the original tree to Foster Botanical Garden more than 25 years ago. It adds that another tree was planted at the University of Hawaii in front of the President’s House on College Hill. This account comes from one seller, and no year is given.
Who bred the plant, and from which parents, is not documented. No Plumeria Society of America registration number is documented. The alias Orange Bouquet also appears in only one source.
Where to Buy and How to Propagate
Paul Weissich is a specialty cultivar. Florida Colors Nursery has listed it in its Hawaii collection, and stock comes and goes. An Australian nursery sells it as cuttings, and our guide to buying plumeria cuttings explains what to ask before you order.
Check that the name reads Paul Weissich or Orange Bouquet. Ask the seller to show the flower. One seller says the plant sets seed, but seedlings do not come true, as explained in growing plumeria from seed.
To get the true cultivar, use stem cuttings or a grafted plant. Our guide on how to take plumeria cuttings covers timing and technique.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths: warm yellow and orange blend, soft peachy scent, large rounded petals, medium vigorous growth, a named link to Honolulu plumeria history.
- Weaknesses: thin documentation, no official cultivar key entry, a reputation as a stingy bloomer in some regions, and colors easily confused with other orange Hawaiian cultivars.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paul Weissich plumeria the same as Orange Bouquet?
One nursery lists Orange Bouquet as another name for it. No second source confirms the alias. Ask the seller for a bloom photo before you buy under either name.
What color is Paul Weissich plumeria?
It is described as golden yellow with an orange center, orange pink veins and faint red edges. Another nursery calls it orange with pink edging. The mix can look more yellow or more orange depending on the plant and the weather.
Is Paul Weissich plumeria fragrant?
One seller describes a soft, fresh, peachy scent that is light and fruity. No other source rates its strength. Expect a gentle fragrance rather than a strong one.
Does Paul Weissich plumeria bloom well?
The nursery that lists it rates it a good bloomer. The same listing says it has been called a stingy bloomer in some regions. Bloom months are not well documented.
Who was Paul Weissich?
He directed Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu from 1957 to 1989 and developed other sites in the city’s botanical garden system. A yellow and orange plumeria carries his name.