Learn how to grow plumeria, a tropical tree and shrub beloved for its delicate, fragrant flowers.
Denny Schrock
Many people know plumeria for its fragrant flowers, which are famously used in Hawaiian leis.
A tropical tree or shrub, plumeria (also called frangipani) likes it hot and humid year-round.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Here is what you oughta know about growing plumeria wherever you live.
In USDA Zones 1011, plant plumeria outside.
Dont plant them next to a home or building; they spread up to 25 feet wide.
Water infrequently, but dont let the soil get completely dry.
The plant goes dormant during this time, and its leaves fall off.
Select an area in full sun with well-draining soil (oramend the soil with compost).
Dig a hole the same depth and slightly wider than the plants nursery container.
Carefully remove the plumeria and set it in the hole at the same depth it was in the container.
Fill the container withequal parts potting soil and perlite.
Light
Plumeria trees thrive infull sun, although they can handle partial shade.
Place them in an area that receives at least six hours of sunlight daily.
The ideal soilpH is 6.5-7.0.
Most plants need around 1 inch of water a week, and plumeria is no exception.
Plumeria plants that stay outdoors during the dormant period in winter shouldnt be watered.
Temperature and Humidity
Plumerias grow in hot, humid regions and thrive in tropical climates.
Fertilizer
When a plumeria is established and growing in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil, fertilizer isnt necessary.
If you grow plumeria in a container, fertilize monthly with ahigh-phosphorus fertilizer.
Pruning
You dont need to prune a plumeria.
Be aware that flowers bloom at the branch tips.
When the plant is cut back too much, blooms are scarce the following year.
Pests and Problems
When growing plumerias, you dont have to worry much about pests.
Sometimes,mealybugs, spider mites, or white fliesmight take up residence in a plumeria.
How to Propagate Plumeria
Plumeria is easy to propagate from stem cuttings in the spring.
Propagated plumerias take up to three years to produce blooms, so dont be discouraged.
Maintain the same water and fertilizing schedule as you use with mature plumerias.
This plant has white blooms with yellow centers.
Singapore Plumeria
Singapore plumeria(Plumeria obtusa)is covered inblooms from spring to fall.
The 3-inch white flowers have yellow throats and rounded petals that contrast with the plants shiny evergreen leaves.
It typically grows 10 to 15 feet tall.
This variety continually produces large clusters of white blooms except during winter.
The flowers contrast beautifully with the spoon-shaped, evergreen foliage.
It is a reliable bloomer and sets seed pods, making it easy to propagate.
The tree grows 1 to 2 feet per year, eventually reaching around 20 feet tall.
Plumeria Companion Plants
The best plumeria companion plants enjoy hot weather.
Rubrum makes mounds of purplish-red leaves.
Its erect red stems carry arching 1-foot-long, pink-to-reddish-purple panicles of spikelets from midsummer through fall.
It is usually grown as an annual, but it is a perennial in Zones 811.
The more sun the plant receives, the brighter the colors become.
It is often grown as an annual, but it is a perennial plant in Zones 9-11.
This plant grows as an annual or perennial in Zones 9-11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Instead, choose a commercial potting soil formulated as a cactus mix.
This readily available option is excellent for plumerias, which need very well-draining soil.
In most home landscapes, they are usually no more than 10-15 feet tall.
They typically bloom throughout the warm months and go dormant in the cold months.
However, the actual blooming period varies depending on the cultivar.
Fangipani.Queensland Poisons Information Centre.
