The Plumeria, also known as Frangipani, is a genus of flowering plants celebrated for its fragrant blossoms and tropical appeal. Native to the Neotropical realm, spanning from Mexico and Central America down to northern South America and the Caribbean, it has become a cosmopolitan ornamental. It is strongly associated with warm climates globally, especially in Hawaii and Southeast Asia, where its flowers are used in traditional leis and ceremonies.
Overall Structure and Woody Features
Plumeria typically grows as a small, rounded tree or large, spreading shrub, reaching heights between 15 and 25 feet. Its growth habit is often vase-shaped, with a canopy that can be as wide as the plant is tall. The branches are thick, fleshy, and brittle, giving the tree a succulent appearance, particularly when it is bare in its deciduous state.
The bark covering the trunk and branches is smooth and typically gray. A defining characteristic of the Plumeria is the thick, milky latex sap that exudes from any cut or damaged part of the plant. This sap can be irritating to the eyes and skin and serves as a protective feature. The widely spaced branches branch only after flowering or injury, with new leaf and flower growth concentrated at the tips.
The Distinctive Foliage
The leaves of the Plumeria are deep green, growing in dense clusters at the ends of the branches. They are long and leathery or fleshy, giving the foliage a glossy or sometimes dull appearance depending on the species. Leaf shapes vary, but are commonly elongated and lance-shaped, or sometimes oblanceolate or oval with smooth margins.
Most Plumeria species are deciduous, shedding their leaves during a dormant period that often coincides with the cooler or drier season. However, some varieties, like Plumeria obtusa, are evergreen. When the older leaves drop, they leave behind distinct scars on the stems, which are clustered beneath the new growth tips.
The Iconic Flowers
The flowers are the Plumeria’s most famous feature, blooming in large, terminal clusters called inflorescences from early summer through fall. Each flower measures between two and four inches in diameter and possesses a tubular base that flares out into five rounded, waxy petals. This structure creates a distinctive pinwheel shape, with the petals often overlapping.
The blossoms appear in a variety of colors, including white with a yellow center, shades of yellow, pink, red, and numerous multicolored combinations. The petals have a thick, waxy texture that can sometimes be mistaken for plastic or velvet. Plumeria flowers are intensely fragrant, with a sweet, complex scent that can include notes of jasmine, citrus, coconut, or gardenia, often varying by cultivar. The fragrance is frequently strongest in the evening, which helps to attract nocturnal pollinators, such as the Sphinx moth.
Reproductive Structures
Following successful pollination, the Plumeria flower may develop a fruit. The fruit is a long, hard, cylindrical pod, often described as resembling a pair of horns or two long green beans. These pods typically grow in pairs at the tip of the stem.
These seed pods take a long time to mature, often nine months or more, eventually turning dark brown and dry. Upon splitting open, the pod releases numerous small, flat seeds, which are equipped with a wing-like structure. This wing allows the seeds to be dispersed by the wind, carrying them away from the parent plant. While Plumeria is most often propagated via stem cuttings, these seeds are the source of natural genetic variation and new cultivars.