Tomlinson plumeria is a pink and white Hawaiian cultivar with a small, bright yellow center, wide rounded petals and a slight sweet scent. Each flower is about 3 inches across, and the petals carry a deep pink rim, white veins and a deep pink band on the back. It is an older named selection that shows up in cultivar records but rarely in nursery catalogs.
That thin paper trail shapes this page. We cover what the records say, how to separate it from similar pinks, and how to handle a plant sold under this name. For the wider picture, see our plumeria varieties guide.
Tomlinson Plumeria at a Glance
| Trait | Details |
|---|---|
| Color | Moderate pink and white with a small, brilliant yellow center; deep pink margin at the tip; deep pink band on the back |
| Flower size | About 3 inches across |
| Petal shape | Wide, round tipped, moderately overlapping; fair texture |
| Fragrance | Slight, sweet |
| Bloom season | April to October in Hawaii; moderate flower production |
| Growth habit | Sprawling with dense branching |
| Leaf | Light green, narrow, with long tapering tips; listed at 17 to 18 inches long |
| Species or parentage | Plumeria rubra; listed as a cross of two rubra forms (rubra and acuminata). A second record calls it a hybrid |
| Breeder or origin | Hawaii; breeder not well documented |
| Registration | Not well documented |
Nearly every detail above comes from the University of Hawaii cultivar key, which is the only detailed description of this cultivar available. A USDA plant germplasm record agrees on the broad facts: a pink hybrid cultivar from Hawaii. Treat the finer traits as one source’s description.
What Tomlinson Plumeria Looks Like
The flower
The base color is a medium pink blended with white. The petal surface is described as grainy in pigment, which gives it a slightly speckled look rather than a smooth wash.
A deep pink margin runs around the petal tip. Through the middle of each petal, white veins stand out against the pink. A small, brilliant yellow center sits at the throat.
Turn the flower over and you will see a deep pink band on the back of each petal. Many Hawaiian pinks have a similar band, so it helps but does not prove the name on its own.
Clusters, leaves and branches
The flower stalk is strong, red, hairy and upright. Blooms sit in tight clusters at the branch tips.
The leaves are light green and narrow, ending in long tapering points. The key lists them at 17 to 18 inches, which is on the long side among its pink neighbors.
The habit is sprawling and densely branched. The key says it suits landscape use with some pruning and training of the branches.
Color shifts
How Tomlinson changes with heat, shade or flower age is not well documented. Many pink and white plumeria pale in strong sun. That is general behavior and not recorded for this cultivar.
Fragrance
The scent is slight and sweet. It is a light, pleasant note that you notice up close and not across a yard. Growers who buy plumeria mainly for perfume will find stronger options in our fragrant plumeria guide.
How to Tell Tomlinson Plumeria Apart From Look Alikes
Several older Hawaiian cultivars share the pink and white blend and a yellow center. The values below come from the same cultivar key, so they compare like with like.
| Cultivar | Color and pattern | Petal shape | Fragrance | Key tell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomlinson | Moderate pink and white, deep pink rim, white veins, deep pink back band | Wide, round tipped, moderately overlapping | Slight sweet | White veining in the center of each petal; 3 inch flower; leaves 17 to 18 inches |
| Loretta | Pink and white with a red spot in the yellow center, grainy pigment | Wide, oval, round tipped | Slight sweet | Red spot in the eye; smaller flower, 2 1/2 to 3 inches |
| Carmen | Pink and white, red band on the back with white areas mid petal | Wide, round tipped, held straight out or slightly downward | Slight sweet | Reflexed petals; shorter leaves, 13 to 14 inches; flowers from May |
| Maui Beauty | Moderate pink with a small yellow center, strong pink back band | Wide, round tipped, twisted | Slight lemon | Lemon note and no white veining; 3 1/4 inch flower |
The practical tells are the white veins running through the middle of the petal, the sprawling habit and the long leaves. Loretta has a red spot, Carmen holds its petals back, and Maui Beauty smells faintly of lemon.
Be careful with any identification from one photo. The key itself warns that one clone has sometimes circulated under several names. Pink and white seedlings can also look close to Tomlinson without being it.
Our pink and white plumeria guide sorts out the wider group.
Growing Tomlinson Plumeria
Basic care is in our plumeria care guide. The points below are the ones specific to this cultivar.
- Bloom habit: The key records moderate flower production from April to October in Hawaii. Expect a shorter season in cooler climates.
- Cut flower use: The key rates keeping quality as very good and calls the cultivar suitable for commercial flower production.
- Rooting: Cuttings are reported to root easily in loamy soil. Growers commonly prefer a coarser, faster draining mix, so follow the cutting guide below.
- Shape: The sprawling habit means the plant spreads wide and needs pruning and branch training to stay tidy.
- Containers: A wide, dense habit can work in a large pot with regular trimming, but how it behaves in a container is not documented.
Cold tolerance, sun sensitivity and disease susceptibility are not well documented. Protect it from frost as you would any plumeria, as covered in our winter care guide.
Origin and History
The key lists Tomlinson among the named cultivars grown in Hawaii. It dates from 2005 and describes plants held in island collections. It does not name a breeder, a year of selection or the story behind the name.
The USDA germplasm record shows a plant named Tomlinson donated to the national germplasm repository in Miami in 2000. It is classed as a hybrid cultivar from Hawaii with pink flowers, and the donor is not recorded. Neither source says who Tomlinson was.
The name story is not well documented. Any plumeria society registration is also not well documented.
Where to Buy and How to Propagate
Tomlinson is hard to find. Larger plumeria nurseries rarely list cuttings or rooted plants. At least one US seller lists only seeds under the name.
Seeds will not grow true, because plumeria are open pollinated. A seedling from a pink and white parent can bloom in a different color and shape. That makes a seed packet a poor way to get this cultivar.
Our seed growing guide explains why seedlings vary.
If you want the real cultivar, buy a cutting or rooted plant from a seller who can say where the stock came from.
Our guide to buying plumeria cuttings covers how to judge a seller. Ask for photos of the parent tree in bloom, especially the white veining and the backs of the petals.
Propagate by cuttings or grafting. Our cutting guide walks through the process, and the reported easy rooting is a good sign for that method.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths: Attractive pink, white and yellow pattern; very good keeping quality as a cut flower; roots easily; dense branching.
- Weaknesses: Hard to source; little documented beyond one description; slight scent only; moderate flower production; sprawling habit needs training.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Tomlinson plumeria?
It is a moderate pink blended with white, with a deep pink rim on each petal and a small, bright yellow center. The back of each petal has a deep pink band, and white veins run through the middle.
Does Tomlinson plumeria smell good?
The scent is slight and sweet. It is gentle and close, not a strong perfume.
How big are Tomlinson plumeria flowers?
The cultivar key gives about 3 inches across. That is a medium size, similar to several other old Hawaiian pinks.
Is Tomlinson plumeria a hybrid?
Sources describe it differently. The cultivar key lists a cross of two Plumeria rubra forms, while the germplasm record classes it simply as a hybrid. Either way it is a garden cultivar and not a wild species.
Can I grow Tomlinson plumeria from seed?
You can grow a plumeria from seed, but it will not be Tomlinson. Seedlings vary in color and form. Use cuttings or grafts to keep the cultivar true.