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The plumeria c.v.
'Slaughter Pink' originated from a seedling grown by Edward Courtade,
Sr., prior to 1950. It was grown of seeds brought to Houston,
Texas from Indonesia by Mrs. Willis Slaughter, a president of the
Garden Club of Houston. The name Slaughter Pink was given by
Elizabeth Thornton during the writing of her first book on Plumeria
to identify this lovely cultivar. This plant's history was
discovered through personal communication with Elizabeth Thornton in
November 1997.
Slaughter Pink is one of the original 51 named cultivars to be
officially registered by the Plumeria Society of America, Inc. in
the 1980's. This plumeria is a vigorous cultivar that flowers
easily and abundantly bearing immense clusters of delicately shaded
flowers. They have pointed, separated petals of pastel pink
changing to white with a soft yellow center. The medium size
flowers have a strong sweet citrus fragrance.
This is a cultivar that is easily open pollinated and each fall
should see the onset of several seed pods. The flowers average
4 to 4.5" (11 cm) in diameter with narrow long, somewhat reflexed
and separated elliptical petals. The flower texture is
delicate with an average to poor keeping quality. Petal type
is narrow elliptical with a pointed tip. The petal color on
top is pale pink, with darker pink shading along one side.
Flowers have a yellow throat and yellow eye. The tendency to
fade is dramatic and they fade to white within one day in the sun.
Fragrance is sweet citrus and intensity of fragrance is mild to
strong. Leaves are green with a green border, slightly
pubescent on the bottom and have a rigid texture. They are
elliptic in shape with an acute tip and average 30 cm in length and
8 cm wide. Leaf petioles are green. The plant is
deciduous with good branching and an upright, rather compact growth
habit. New growth is slightly pubescent. Its tendency is
to set seed is above average. Both the seed parent and pollen
parent are unknown.
By Milton L. Pierson |
