Hilo Beauty

Hilo Beauty

Hilo Beauty is one of those reds that stops people mid-aisle. The blooms run a solid 3½ to 4 inches — among the largest of the deep reds — with wide, slightly overlapping petals and rounded tips. Color is a glossy, velvety maroon that can read almost black in heat or late light, with a strong red center and those telltale reddish-brown bands on both faces of the petal. Some growers also note a dark line running through the petal; that, plus the heavy texture, is how you tell a true Hilo Beauty from look-alikes.

The scent starts quietly spicy and gets stronger after the flower is picked or stored. Keeping quality is excellent — one of the reasons Hawaiian growers have used it in lei for decades. Registered with the Plumeria Society of America as #132 and also sold under names like Dakota’s Curling Red and Black Red, it is a Plumeria rubra type: tall and upright with tight branching and long, dark green leaves that can show a reddish or blue-green cast.

This one is rooted, not grafted. That matters. Hilo Beauty is famously slow and fussy from cuttings — many commercial plants are grafted for that reason — so a plant that has already made its own roots is the harder, more valuable start. Give it heat, sharp drainage, and patience. Once it settles in, it rewards you with those long-lasting, velvety red clusters.

Plant Details

• Colors: Velvety dark red with reddish brown veining
• Scent: Spicy
• Bloom Size: 3+"
• Growth Habit: Medium/Tall

Availability:  

Rooted plumerias are grown organically here in south Louisiana, potted in air pruning pots, and ready for their new homes. We recommend leaving them in their current pots for at least 1–2 years for best results.

Pricing varies based on plant size, number of tips, and inflows. Grown with care at our home nursery in Denham Springs, LA.

Available for local pickup, delivery within 60 miles of Denham Springs, LA or purchase at our garden shows across the South.