Plumeria

Description

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Plumeria plant description

Plumeria (frangipani) is a small tree or bush, member of the Apocynacea family mostly deciduous. Native to Mexico, Central America and Venezuela is quite alluring thanks to its colorful flowers.

Moreover, the plumeria tends to form a wide crown, mostly round, displaying big leaves; mostly 7 to 11 inches long and about 2 to 4 in wide. With a distinctive bright green color, although some species have a rather matte color; they are ovate in shape, with a flattened apex and long petiolate. Furthermore, the flowers are tubular, large, with five petals and characterized by their bright colors. With an intense palette that includes yellows, pinks, reds or mixed, which open in the shape of a pinwheel of 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Also, flowers are pretty fragrant specially at night, attracting moths and insect which pollinate them and, in some cases, help creating new varieties of Plumeria (frangipani). It is commonly propagated by cuttings or by stem tips.

Frangipani tree cultuvation

It mostly tolerates in a moderate manner salt and drought condition but it is frost sensitive. Additionally, it prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade.

Plumeria tree in landscape

Plumeria is a great garden addition thanks to its bright colors, blooming specially through summer and autumn, as flowers stand out nicely through the green foliage. Besides being a traditional garden and park plant, and it is also very popular in temples and cemeteries; and also quite famous because it’s the lei flower.

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