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Frangipani (Plumeria)

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We have two types of frangipani in our yard. One of them has yellowish, creme colored flowers. This is a picture of the one with deep red flowers. These are the flowers used in Hawaii to make the flower-garlands known as leis.

Here are a few facts, based on my personal observations:

Frangipani
Frangipani

  • The tree loses ALL of it’s leaves in summer. You would be sure it was dead, if you didn’t know better.
  • The flowers have a sweet fragrant smell
  • The trees are extremely simple to propagate: put a broken branch in the ground. Keep it watered (or plant it in the rainy season)
  • A sunny, well drained location works well.


According to Your Florida Garden, 5th ed.:[1. Your Florida Garden, 5th ed., Watkins and Wolfe, 1958, University Presses of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.]

Size 10-15 ft. Several species of frangipani are common in all tropical countries, grown for their delightfully fragrant flowers. They are all short, stocky trees of spreading habit with thick, stubby branches of soft wood, milky sap, and large, leathery leaves. The species most often seen in Florida gardens are P. rubra, with broad leaves and purplish red flowers, and P. alba, with narrow leaves rolled at the margins and white flowers. Leaves are clustered near the branch tips and flowers are borne terminally all through late spring and summer.

FOOTNOTES