You open a cutting list and see ‘Pink Pansy (JL)’, another plant marked (JJ) and a third tagged FCN. Growers searching jj plumeria meaning want to know what the letters name. It could be a breeder, a seller, or a color form.
The honest answer is that these codes are shorthand from sellers and clubs, not part of the official plant name.
Here is what the evidence supports, what it does not, and how to read a label without guessing.
Do Name Codes Belong to the Plant?
No. A cultivar name is the part inside single quotes, such as ‘Kimi Moragne’. A code in parentheses after it is a note added by whoever wrote the list or the tag.
The Plumeria Society of America keeps a register of cultivar names. Its rules say a name may not include abbreviations (with a single exception for ‘Mrs.’) or numbers. So (JJ), (JL) and (FCN) can never be part of a registered name.
The same rules include an Alternates field for other names or local names the plant is known by. That is where aliases belong on paper. On sale lists they just appear in the text.
JJ Plumeria Meaning: Jungle Jack’s
The most clearly documented code is JJ.
The JJ plumeria meaning in grower talk is Jungle Jack’s, a plumeria breeder and seller. Plumeria forum threads refer to Jungle Jack’s dwarf varieties, such as Sunsplash and Divine. They use JJ as shorthand for the nursery.
The Southern California Plumeria Society festival cultivar list uses the same code, marking plants with (JJ) for Jungle Jack’s. That is the usual reading when you see it on a cutting list.
Anyone asking about jj plumeria meaning should read JJ as a note on where the plant came from. It is not a guarantee.
A plant labeled JJ can still be mislabeled by the person who passed it along. Forum posters do report doubting plants that did not match the breeder’s photos.
JL and the Jim Little Connection
JL appears after names on society newsletter lists, for example after ‘Pink Pansy’. The newsletter does not spell out the letters.
Growers commonly read JL as Jim Little, the Hawaii breeder, and our guide to Jim Little and his varieties covers his work.
That reading is likely, but it is not formally documented. Forum posters also write J105 and JL 105 for what looks like the same plant, with the prefix unexplained.
If a seller uses JL, ask what it stands for in their list.
FCN and Other Nursery Initials
FCN shows up in forum posts as a source label, for plants bought from a Homestead, Florida grower. The abbreviation is commonly read as Florida Colors Nursery, a name that also appears in a Plumeria Society newsletter. FCN itself is never spelled out in print, so its meaning is not well documented.
Other initials and nursery tags exist on lists and tags. Without a published key, treat them as the seller’s own shorthand. Our guide to Florida plumeria nurseries can help you match a name to a seller.
| Code | Usual reading | How well documented |
|---|---|---|
| JJ | Jungle Jack’s (nursery and breeder) | Clear in grower discussion; used as shorthand for the nursery |
| JL | Jim Little, by common reading | Used in a society newsletter but not defined there |
| FCN | Florida Colors Nursery, by common reading | Used as a source label; abbreviation not spelled out |
| ACW and similar | Initials of the cultivar name itself | Spelled out in one newsletter (‘Ammaron’s Curly White’ aka ACW) |
What AKA Means on a Plumeria Label
AKA means also known as. It tells you the plant is sold under more than one name. A Plumeria Society newsletter lists ‘George Brown (aka Musk Rainbow)’, and our page on Musk Rainbow plumeria covers that name.
Forum threads show the same pattern.
Posters say Rosco, Roscoe and Tangerine Dream refer to one plant. They say Diamond Rainbow and Sherbert Town do too. Nobody keeps a master list of every alias, so each pair is a judgment call.
When two AKA names are listed, the registered one (if there is one) is the safest to search by. The other is a trade or local name that may spread across sellers.
Numbered Seedlings and Placeholder Names
Many plants start with a number. A newsletter mentions a plant called White 93 that still needed a better name. Numbers like this are working labels from the grower who made the seedling.
Registration rules do not allow numbers in a registered name. A numbered seedling needs a real name before it can be registered.
Until then, the number is the only handle it has. Two growers can use the same number for different plants.
The words seedling, hybrid, selection and improved are also barred from registered names. If you see ‘Pink Seedling’ on a tag, read it as a description, not a cultivar.
Trade Names vs Registered Names
A registered name is on the Society’s register and carries a registration number. ‘Kimi Moragne’, for instance, is recorded as registered with the Plumeria Society of America as number 163. A trade name is whatever a seller prints on the tag.
Most plumeria in circulation was never formally registered. A good plant can still have only a trade name, a breeder code and an AKA. Registering a name is a formal process with its own rules.
How to Read a Label Without Being Misled
- Treat anything in parentheses after the name as a note from the seller, not part of the cultivar.
- Ask the seller what the code stands for, and where the plant came from.
- Search the main name and each AKA together before buying. Rarity claims often change when two names turn out to be one plant.
- Expect color and form to shift with heat and age. A photo mismatch alone does not prove a mislabel.
- Be more careful with very rare or high demand names, where mislabeling is a known problem. Our guide to rare plumeria goes into this.
For the wider picture of types and colors, start with plumeria varieties. If you are buying, where to buy plumeria cuttings covers sellers and what to ask them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does JJ mean after a plumeria name?
The jj plumeria meaning most growers give is Jungle Jack’s, the nursery and breeder. It is a seller note, not part of the registered name.
What does JL mean on a plumeria list?
It is commonly read as Jim Little. Society newsletters use it without defining it, so ask the seller if it matters to your purchase.
Is FCN the same as a registration number?
No. FCN is a source label, commonly read as Florida Colors Nursery. Registration numbers belong to the Plumeria Society of America register.
Can two plumeria names be the same plant?
Yes. Aliases are common, and George Brown is listed as aka Musk Rainbow in one newsletter. Check both names with the seller before paying extra for a rare one.
Are numbered seedlings real cultivars?
They are plants waiting for a name. A number is a working label, and numbers are not allowed in registered names.