One Plumeria, a Dozen Different Faces
Heat...
... Cold
Sunlight...
... Shade
Maturity...
... Humidity
Every single one of these factors will affect the color, size and abundance of flowers!
The big question: will my new plumeria look like its tag when I grow it at home? Why does it look so different?
To help our JJ fans visualize their new plumeria in their home climate, we've been busy rolling out additional photos that show these color variations. This is an ongoing effort - you'll find them in climate-specific galleries, or by variety in the online Store.
Photos by Region
A bit of background first: the vast majority of our photos are taken in our Northern Thailand groves. These pictures are typically taken during Winter dormant season for one simple reason - I'm there for the cutting harvest! During Thailand's heat, I'm generally back in California, but if you see a full set of leaves in the photo, it's a bloom season photo.
Thailand pictures show typical flower coloration in hot, dry semi-tropical weather. However, we realize that few growers have the same conditions, so we're adding more diverse images that show the wonderful variations in color.
Not all blooms look different based on the local climate - most whites or yellow blooms are fairly consistent. For example, Scentsational produces thick, 4" wide white flowers wherever she blooms and whenever she blooms. Not true for many rainbows: they can vary widely on the same inflo on the same tree, such as Jester and Super Round!
Get the best plumeria for your local conditions: Cool or Hot
Two special galleries address the far ends of the weather spectrum: Desert or Coastal.
Desert climate with intense heat and strong sunlight (100F)
Cool or coastal climate with moderate summer temperatures, some fog (75F)
Hint: Flowers that need intense heat to bring out the amazing details may not perform in cool weather. The inverse is also true - some varieties actually look better in cooler weather, as fine details don't get overwhelmed with the base color.
Regional Photos
We're also adding pictures of JJ plumeria blooming in regions, such as Southern California or Arizona, so you can see the trees grown by others in your area.
Sunlight Matters
Plumeria need about 6 hours of sunlight to bloom properly. This, plus local temperatures, affects the colors - sometimes drastically. Our Vista, CA greenhouses are hot, but the plants don't get any direct sun. These photos show the difference that sunlight makes, so if you plant in partial shade, you'll know what to expect.
Like all plumeria, JJ's flowers reach full size, color, and bloom production as the tree matures and the root system develops. Don't be concerned if a small plant produces smaller than expected flowers - it's normal. Give your new plant time to grow, and it will reward you with outstanding blooms!
New photos, improved descriptions and online store upgrades are in the works, so stay tuned for more announcements!
