My princess victoria has been sitting with other plants for years with not another plant having a break.

I too have a Princess Victoria with color break and it hasn't "spread". Reading Jim Little's book it seems that there are other varieties that have this as well. I don't remember what the Eggenberger's book says about it. Princess Victoria is sold as is, because of the color splash, in my opinion, so I wouldn't think it would be sold as such if it were "communicable". Just a guess of my part.

On a note, I have noticed that this year, my P.V has not had as much color break as last year, and had more. Breaks early on in the blooming season (it was my first plant to bloom this year). An interesting phenomenon.

I'm not sure that is a virus causing that. According to Jim Little's book, "Many plumerias with pigmented flowers that look splotchy, variegated, spotty or disfigured are not viruses, but a form of mutation (chimeras). This type of mutation can affect a few flowers of an inflorescence or a segment of only one flower. A mutation (sport) is just a change in the DNA of a plant and the change can be good or bad." And guess which variety he pictures below that blurb? A Moragne #23!

According to the book, Princess Victoria is a suspected chimera.

I had a splashed Penang Peach in midsummer and according to the book it may have been caused by "excessive heat". I'd say over 70 days of triple digits probably qualifies!

I hope yours is just a chimera because it is gorgeous.

Jen

If it is a virus what are the negative effects?

Personally I think the splash is pretty when there's a decent amount of it; and not just one small blotch that detracts from an otherwise perfect bloom.

Thanks everyone
I just called Molly at Upland nursery where I got the plant. She is the plumeria queen around here. I asked her about my color break. Her response was oh you very lucky,
very desirable. Will not hurt your plant or others around it. Sure hope she is right because I plan to leave the plant alone.

I think we are topping out at 99 degrees today!

I think it's very pretty. Hope it's not a virus!

I too think that a color splash can be causes by chimera, virus or heat stress. If virus and is consistant, I'm not crazy about that look, because flower size is usually smaller isn't it?

I have thrown out plants that had virus. I like the pure look of the named varieties.

All that said, I did have some that displayed a splash this summer, but it was not consistant, and I think it was caused by excessive heat stress.

Plumatherapy, really love that color break on your Moragne #23, I know ppl say its bad, but I would still buy when I see it.

Anyway I was "lucky" enough to have a color break on my California Sunset this year and I'm just loving it, the flowers are just a tad smaller but the splashes are so random that each bloom is unique in its own way. I do keep it away from my other plants, but put it with my duplicates, just because I want to see how it would effect the others in terms of blooms and splashes. I would love to see more blooms of your beauty..

Here are a few pics of my California Sunset with the color break, let me know what you guys think...

With heat (notice the bud w/ the color break in the background)

in cooler temps

Nikki T.

Its a very nice color splash! I think all permanent color spashes are viruses, but Plumeria Viruses dont seem to be too contagious. I would just be extremely careful and make sure you sanitize all tools you use to cut it.
I have a plumeria with variegated leaves, (Plumeria Maya) which apparently is pretty saught after for its variegation. I think that the variegation is caused by a virus, but I have it near my other plumerias and they have no signs of virus. My Variegated plumeria is a pretty vigorous grower also, so if it is a virus, it doesnt seem to be harmful to the actual health of the plant.

Good luck!! I hope your plant isnt virused, but even if it is, just make the best of it and as long as it keeps looking as nice as it does now, I would keep it!
-Alex

Thanx Alex, I think my California Sunset does have a virus, so far the plant doesn't act "sickly" still very robust and blooming nonstop, but there are few plants that do have the natural splashes, for instant I read somewhere that Princess Victoria is a chimera and not a virus so it doesn't spread to other plants, I've also been putting my Variegated Maya next to many other plants for years with no signs of infection, maybe another chimera? Another natural splash plant is Udom Chok, very beautiful chimera...

Nikki T.

Well, I think that the splash of color adds a distinctive touch...........I don't know much about the plummies yet, but, I sure wouldnt mind one with splashes........lol

Neysa

Interestingly, my PV that moved from CA to FL exhibited the color break every year. The winter of 2007-8 in FL, a cold spell killed the plant to the ground, but the roots survived and the plant sprouted from the base. Since then, no color breaks. If the break is DNA related, why would the plant appear to lose the trait? This plant was rooted from a cutting from Jim Little, not grafted. And it now is a plain pink bloom.

Well my Moragne 23 put out a few more blooms after taking a few weeks off and they all have the color break. Not sure if I'm happy about it or not. The plant is in the ground and I plan to leave it alone till next year to see what it does.

this is this first time I have heard of this and while I can understand how it would be a disappointment to have a named variety do this I still think its pretty cool.

I love how that one looks plumatherapy!

mike

Laura- love how your 23 looks. I wish mine would do that. I have to show what my princess Victoria used to do- now it just is a metari pink
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Splashes in Plumeria

http://www.kukiatsgardens.com/SplashesinPlumeria.html