Many growers assume waimea plumeria must be a Hawaiian cultivar, since Waimea is a well known place name on Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island. The record is less tidy. One specialty nursery lists it as a variety from Thailand but files it under a Hawaii collection.
Another sells it as a Hawaiian cultivar, and a red Hawaiian tree called Leona Hoke is described as a near twin.
Only two nursery listings describe this cultivar. This page sets out what is documented about the flower, the scent, the growth habit and the origin story.
Waimea Plumeria at a Glance
| Trait | Details |
|---|---|
| Color | Red pink with orange centers and a reddish purple petal outline; a second seller says coral and red with hints of gold and pink |
| Flower size | About 3 to 3.5 inches |
| Petal shape | Rounded, broad, heavily overlapping, velvety texture |
| Fragrance | Sweet cinnamon (one seller); very strong and exceptionally sweet (another) |
| Bloom season | Described as a great bloomer and a late bloomer; exact months are not well documented |
| Growth habit | Medium, about 12 to 24 inches of growth per year, with good branching |
| Leaf | Not well documented |
| Species or parentage | Plumeria rubra type; one listing gives Jeannie Moragne as the seed parent and Dean Conklin as the pollen parent |
| Breeder or origin | One seller says Thailand, named by Marilyn Cohen of Marilyn’s Gardens; another calls it a Hawaiian cultivar; the breeder is not well documented |
| Registration | Not well documented |
Most of the detail above comes from the Florida Colors Plumeria listing, with a shorter description from Brad’s Buds and Blooms as the only second source. No registry entry or society newsletter describes the cultivar. The University of Hawaii cultivar key, which covers many classic Hawaiian varieties, does not list the name at all.
What Waimea Plumeria Looks Like
The flower is a warm red pink with an orange glow in the center, and each petal carries a thin reddish purple outline. The second seller sums it up as coral and red with hints of gold and pink, the same warm blend seen from a different eye. That mix is why a spec table may say red while the written description says red pink.
As the flowers age, the red areas fade to light red and orange. The contrast stays bright on the underside of the petals as well. How much heat shifts the color is not well documented.
Blooms are about 3 to 3.5 inches across, and both sellers agree on that size. That is a medium flower, smaller than the 4 inch blooms of many Hawaiian reds.
The petals are rounded, broad and heavily overlapping, with a velvety texture. They form full clusters on a plant that branches well.
Leaf size and shape are not well documented. They are left blank here rather than guessed from similar looking red plumeria.
Waimea Plumeria Fragrance
The scent is described as sweet cinnamon, compared to cinnamon chewing gum. The second seller calls it very strong and exceptionally sweet, with no spice mentioned. A listing for the very similar Leona Hoke calls the scent sweet frangipani, so the descriptions are close but not identical.
Only one listing rates scent strength, and it says very strong. Plumeria fragrance also changes through the day and with temperature, so one grower’s cinnamon can be another’s plain sweetness. For comparison across cultivars, see our guide to what plumeria smells like.
How to Tell Waimea Apart From Look Alikes
Red and orange plumeria are easy to mix up. The table uses values from nursery listings.
| Cultivar | Color and pattern | Petal shape | Fragrance | Key tell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waimea | Red pink with orange centers, reddish purple outline | Rounded, broad, overlapping | Sweet cinnamon | About 3 to 3.5 inch flower, medium growth, late bloomer |
| Leona Hoke | Fiery red and orange | Not well documented | Sweet frangipani | Listed as similar to, if not the same as, Waimea |
| Jeannie Moragne | Red | Not well documented | Rose | Larger flower at 4 inches or more, tall growth |
| Dean Conklin | Salmon orange, listed as pink | Not well documented | Spicy | Larger flower at 4 inches or more |
The Leona Hoke question matters most. The Leona Hoke page calls it similar if not the same as Waimea. The Waimea page says it is reminiscent of Leona Hoke but has distinct differences, so the same nursery leans both ways.
The parents are another puzzle.
The listing for Waimea gives Jeannie Moragne plumeria as the seed parent and Dean Conklin as the pollen parent, yet it also says the plant is from Thailand. Both parents are Hawaiian cultivars, and the second seller simply calls Waimea a Hawaiian cultivar. The Thailand claim does not sit easily with the rest.
No breeding record settles it. The listing also gives Cinnamon Swirl as another name for the same cultivar.
Growing Waimea Plumeria
Basic needs follow our plumeria care guide. These points are specific to this cultivar, and few are documented.
- Vigor: Medium, at roughly 12 to 24 inches per year. That is a moderate pace, listed below the tall grade used for Jeannie Moragne.
- Bloom habit: The listing says it blooms heavily but late. In practice that means you may wait longer into the season than with early bloomers.
- Seed pods: The listing notes that it sets seed pods. Seedlings from those pods are new plants, not copies.
- Cold tolerance: The listing says it is not cold tolerant, with no temperature given. Growers in cool climates should read our plumeria cold hardiness guide and plan to bring it indoors early.
- Containers and sun: The main listing says it suits a container, a small backyard or a larger landscape. The medium growth rate and good branching back that up. Sun and heat sensitivity are not well documented.
Origin and History
The origin of this cultivar is not settled. One seller says it is from Thailand and that Marilyn Cohen of Marilyn’s Gardens gave it the name Waimea.
The same page files it in a Hawaii collection. A second seller describes it as a Hawaiian cultivar with no mention of Thailand.
The related Leona Hoke page gives a different story. It says that cultivar came from Hawaii, that the original tree stood near Waikiki Beach, and that a new homeowner cut it down. No year is given for either plant, and no registration number is listed for either.
With no breeder or registration on record, you cannot check the plant against a registry entry. If your plant arrives under a different name, ask the seller which name they stand behind.
Where to Buy and How to Propagate
This cultivar is sold as cuttings, grafted plants and seeds by specialty nurseries. Florida Colors Plumeria in Florida and Brad’s Buds and Blooms in California both list it.
Stock rotates, so availability changes through the year. Our page on where to buy plumeria cuttings explains how to vet a seller and avoid mislabeled stock.
Given the Leona Hoke overlap, ask for a photo of a flower from the parent tree and compare it with the colors above.
Waimea roots from cuttings like other plumeria, and grafting is an option. Our guide to how to take plumeria cuttings covers the method, and our plumeria varieties list helps you compare options.
For similar tones, browse red plumeria.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths: Warm red pink and orange blooms with velvety overlapping petals, a strong sweet scent, a heavy bloom set, good branching and moderate growth.
- Weaknesses: Late blooming, not cold tolerant, a muddled origin story and a possible duplicate of Leona Hoke.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What color is Waimea plumeria?
It is described as red pink with orange centers, or as coral and red with hints of gold and pink. The red areas fade to light red and orange as the flower ages.
Does Waimea plumeria smell like cinnamon?
One seller describes the scent as sweet cinnamon, like cinnamon chewing gum. Another calls it very strong and exceptionally sweet without naming a spice. Perception of plumeria scent varies from person to person.
Is Waimea plumeria the same as Leona Hoke?
One nursery says Leona Hoke is similar if not the same as Waimea. No breeder or registry record settles the question. Treat them as possibly the same plant.
Is Waimea plumeria from Hawaii or Thailand?
One seller describes it as from Thailand, yet lists it in a Hawaii collection and gives two Hawaiian cultivars as parents. Another seller calls it a Hawaiian cultivar. The true origin is not well documented.
Is Waimea plumeria cold hardy?
The listing says it is not cold tolerant and gives no temperature. Protect it from frost and bring potted plants indoors before cold nights.
Is Cinnamon Swirl the same as Waimea?
The listing gives Cinnamon Swirl as another name for Waimea. That claim appears in one source only, so confirm it with the seller before ordering.