Plumerias, also called frangipani, can be small tropical trees or small shrubs, with fragrant flowers, beautiful plants that some say define “Tropical.” They are also used in Hawaii to make the popular “leis,” though they are not native there. 

The Plumerias, or frangipani, are closely related plants that can be grown from cuttings, and often look like sad, defoliated sticks upon planting. However, they grow fast and add a tropical aesthetic and a spectacular floral display to your landscape.

In Florida, most plumeria tend to be dormant and lose their leaves in the winter months but once the leaves are reestablished, the plants are prolific bloomers!

Plumeria plants flower from early summer to fall. Their blossoms grow in clusters on ends of the stems, they are made of tubular spirals with a length of 2 - 4 inches (5.1–10.2 cm) that split sharply into five rounded and waxy petals that overlap each other. These flowers come in many colors including pink, red, white and yellow, orange, or pastel. The flowers are highly fragrant especially at night, their scent is perceived to have smells from some flowers like jasmine, citrus, and gardenia, but they yield no nectar. Plumeria plants from cross-pollinated seeds of other Plumeria may show characteristics of the mother tree or their flowers might just have a distinct appearance. The fruit it produces separates into two follicles with winged seeds.

In Mesoamerica, they have carried complex symbolic significance with striking examples from the Maya and Aztec periods. Among the Maya, they have been associated with deities representing life and fertility, and the flowers also became strongly connected with female sexuality. Nahuatl-speaking people during the height of the Aztec Empire used them to signify elite status, planting them in the gardens of nobles.

In several Pacific islands, they were introduced in the late 19th century, such as in Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. 

WARNING, these plants can be toxic the Children, dogs and cats.

Leaves of plumeria grow in clusters at the tips of the branches and are alternate. They are elongated, with prominent veining, and can be either rounded or pointed at the tip. Flowering begins in early summer and continues into autumn.

Blooms can be in any color you might consider tropical, from soft white to coral, pink, yellow, orange, and pastel hues. Each flower has five waxy petals that typically overlap. The original native color is white with small yellow centers.

The rule of thumb of about 1 inch of water per week also applies to established plumeria. However, the watering needs to be increased with exposure to direct sunlight.

In a location with full sun for most of the day, it needs more watering than in a partially shaded location so you might have to water in the absence of rain. Water deeply and then let the soil dry out before watering again.

The rule of thumb of about 1 inch of water per week also applies to established plumeria. However, the watering needs to be increased with exposure to direct sunlight.

Fertilize potted plumeria once a month during the active growing season. Use well-drained soil. Once it’s established, give the plant about 1 inch of water per week in the absence of rain, more as needed. Water potted plants more frequently.

Do not water outdoor plumeria in the landscape during its winter dormancy. Indoor plumeria that are dormant only need infrequent watering, as little as every two weeks. Water just enough so the soil ever fully dries out.

10-30 ft. tall, 20-25 ft. wide

Outdoors 4ft. from structures, and 10 – 20 ft. apart. Pots can be moved but be aware they get heavy after a few years.

Although it is a slow grower, plumeria may grow up to 30 feet tall in the landscape. Grown in containers, it stays much smaller and allows you to move it indoors for the winter if you live outside its USDA hardiness range.

Best grown outdoors in the zones 10-11 (USDA)

If you are growing plumeria outside its hardiness range, bring it indoors when temperatures drop below 50 degrees F. To let it enter dormancy indoors move it to a cool room and water it sparingly. If you are overwintering your potted plumeria in a room where the temperature is above 65 or 70 degrees, the plant is unlikely to go dormant though it will drop some of its leaves. Gradually acclimate the plant to the outdoors the following spring.