Overview

Embark on a journey to tropical paradise with the exquisite King Kalakaua Plumeria cutting. This unrooted cutting, measuring 10-12 inches, offers the opportunity to grow a magnificent tropical plumeria plant renowned for its breathtaking blooms and intoxicating fragrance. The ‘King Kalakaua’ variety is particularly prized for its large, approximately 4-inch diameter, off-white flowers that feature a vibrant orange center and subtle purple tints around the edges. Its stiff texture and excellent keeping quality make it a beloved choice, especially for traditional Hawaiian lei making. Despite being an unrooted cutting, it is healthy and firm, ready for successful propagation in your home garden or patio. This variety boasts a compact growing habit and is known for being an easy bloomer, making it a rewarding addition for both novice and experienced gardeners seeking a touch of the tropics.

The Plumeria, also known as Frangipani, is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. Native to warm tropical areas, Plumeria species are famous for their intensely fragrant flowers, which bloom in a wide array of colors. The ‘King Kalakaua’ stands out with its unique color combination and robust nature. Growing this fragrant frangipani from a cutting is a fulfilling experience, allowing you to nurture a plant that will eventually produce an abundance of beautiful, sweet-smelling blossoms. Whether you dream of creating your own leis or simply wish to enjoy the exotic beauty and aroma, this plumeria cutting is an ideal choice.

Key Benefits

Adding a King Kalakaua Plumeria cutting to your plant collection offers a multitude of benefits, transforming your space into a fragrant, tropical haven. These cuttings mature into stunning plants that provide continuous enjoyment.

• Exquisite Fragrance: The ‘King Kalakaua’ plumeria is celebrated for its very sweet and potent fragrance, which can perfume an entire area, especially in the evenings. This makes it a perfect addition near patios or windows where its scent can be fully appreciated.
• Stunning Blooms: You’ll be captivated by the large, off-white flowers with their distinctive orange centers and purple edges. These beautiful blossoms create a vibrant display, adding a touch of exotic elegance to any landscape or container.
• Compact Growth Habit: This variety is known for its compact growth, making it suitable for smaller gardens, containers, or even as a patio plant. It doesn’t require vast amounts of space to thrive and produce abundant flowers.
• Easy to Bloom: The ‘King Kalakaua’ is a good bloomer, meaning it readily produces flowers once established. This ensures a consistent display of its gorgeous, aromatic blossoms throughout the growing season, a significant advantage for any tropical plumeria plant enthusiast.
• Excellent Keeping Quality: The flowers boast an excellent keeping quality, meaning they stay fresh for an extended period after being cut. This characteristic is particularly valuable for those interested in plumeria lei making or using the blooms for floral arrangements.
• Tropical Ambiance: Cultivating this plumeria instantly brings a sense of the tropics to your environment, creating a relaxing and visually appealing atmosphere reminiscent of Hawaiian islands.
• Rewarding Propagation: Successfully rooting and growing a King Kalakaua Plumeria cutting is a deeply satisfying gardening endeavor, connecting you directly with the growth process of a beautiful plant.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your King Kalakaua Plumeria cutting requires attention to specific environmental conditions to ensure successful rooting and vigorous growth. Once established, plumerias are relatively low-maintenance but thrive with consistent care. For successful rooting, plant your 10-12 inch cutting in a well-draining potting mix, ideally a blend designed for succulents or cacti, which prevents waterlogging. Ensure the pot has drainage holes. Place the cutting in a warm location with plenty of bright, indirect sunlight or partial sun. Avoid direct, intense afternoon sun until roots are established, which usually takes 4-8 weeks. Water sparingly after planting, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings to prevent rot, a common issue with unrooted cuttings. Once rooted and new leaves appear, you can gradually increase watering.

Established tropical plumeria plant specimens prefer full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. In very hot climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial. They are drought-tolerant once mature but will perform best with regular watering during their active growing season, allowing the top few inches of soil to dry out between applications. During dormancy in winter, significantly reduce watering. Plumerias thrive in USDA zones 9-11 outdoors, but can be grown in containers and brought indoors in colder climates. The ideal temperature range for active growth is between 65°F and 80°F. Protect from frost, as plumerias are very sensitive to cold.

Fertilize your plumeria during the growing season (spring through fall) with a high-phosphorus fertilizer to encourage blooming. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which promote leafy growth over flowers. Repot every 2-3 years or when the plant becomes root-bound. Watch out for common pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and whiteflies, treating them with appropriate horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps. Understanding how to root plumeria successfully is key to enjoying its future blooms, and with proper care, your cutting will flourish into a beautiful, fragrant specimen.

Size & Details

This offering is for one King Kalakaua Plumeria cutting, measuring approximately 10-12 inches in length. These are unrooted cuttings, meaning they do not yet have an established root system and will require proper care for rooting. The cuttings are firm and healthy, though their natural growth habit may result in some curvature, which does not affect their viability. Once rooted and established, a tropical plumeria plant of this variety typically grows as a compact shrub or small tree, reaching heights of 6-10 feet in ideal outdoor conditions, though it can be maintained at a smaller size in containers through pruning. The large flowers can reach a diameter of 3.5-4 inches. Expect new growth and potential blooms within the first year or two after successful rooting, depending on growing conditions and care. This cutting provides a robust start for cultivating a beautiful fragrant frangipani specimen.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this King Kalakaua Plumeria plant get? A: Once established, the ‘King Kalakaua’ plumeria typically grows as a compact shrub or small tree, reaching 6-10 feet tall in outdoor settings. Its size can be managed with pruning, especially when grown in containers.
• Q: What condition will the cutting arrive in? A: The product is a healthy, unrooted King Kalakaua Plumeria cutting, approximately 10-12 inches long. It will be firm and ready for planting, though some natural curvature may be present.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Plumerias are tropical plants best suited for outdoor growth in USDA zones 9-11. In colder climates, they can be grown in pots and brought indoors during winter to protect them from frost.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Once rooted, a tropical plumeria plant thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. During the rooting phase, bright indirect light or partial sun is recommended.
• Q: Is this cutting easy to care for? A: Rooting a plumeria cutting requires some patience and specific care, but once rooted, the ‘King Kalakaua’ is known for being a relatively easy-to-care-for and good blooming plant, suitable for various gardening skill levels.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: With proper care, your King Kalakaua Plumeria cutting can begin to produce blooms within the first one to two years after successful rooting, depending on growing conditions and climate.
• Q: Can I use these flowers for lei making? A: Yes, the ‘King Kalakaua’ plumeria is highly valued for plumeria lei making due to its beautiful, fragrant flowers and excellent keeping quality.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for rooting a plumeria cutting? A: A well-draining potting mix is crucial for rooting. A mix designed for succulents or cacti, or a blend of perlite, coarse sand, and peat, works very well to prevent rot.
• Q: How often should I water the unrooted cutting? A: Water sparingly after planting your King Kalakaua Plumeria cutting, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Overwatering is the most common cause of failure for unrooted cuttings.
• Q: Will this fragrant frangipani survive winter in my zone? A: Plumerias are very sensitive to cold and frost. If you live outside of USDA zones 9-11, you will need to protect your plant by bringing it indoors or providing significant winter protection.