Plumerias originated in the Caribbean, including the South American countries of Columbia, Guyana, and Venezuela, and throughout Central America.
Names of plumerias range from Paucipa in Puerto Rico, Flor de Mayo in Mexico, Flor de la Cruz in Guatemala, Amapola in Venezuela, Tipanier in Tahiti, Pumeli in Hawaii, Frangipani in Australia, Jepun in Bali, Indonesia, Dok jumpa in Laos, Phool in India, Pomelia in Italy, Pagodenbaum in Germany, Flor de Cebo on the Canary Islands to Plumies in the USA.
These beautiful exotic tropical plants can range in size from dwarfs, which under the most ideal conditions don't grow more than six feet tall to giant trees up to 30 feet in height.
Their intoxicating and unforgettable fragrances include gardenia, jasmine, ripe peaches, grapes, honeysuckle, roses, ginger, coconut and many more.
Colors of plumeria flowers include white, yellow, orange, salmon, pink, red, rainbows, and some hybrids even show some purple.
Their flower petals are defined by their distinct and unique characteristics. They can be wide, narrow, elliptical, twisted and slightly, moderately, or highly overlapped. They can be described as thick and waxy, delicate and thin, and have various textures in between.
Plumeria leaves which range from light to dark green in color are a beautiful background for these colorful, fragrant flowers. Leaves also provide natural protection from high winds.
Plumerias can be started from seeds or unrooted cuttings. You may purchase a grown rooted plant with or without developing inflorescences, with or without buds to a fully flowering plant. It is most important to purchase your plumeria cuttings and plants from reputable retailers known for selling quality merchandise. Price does not guarantee quality.
Plumerias are unique plants in a way that they can be lifted from the ground or pot and stored overwinter in a heated basement or garage. They go completely dormant during the colder months of the year needing no watering or fertilizing. Come spring plumeria enthusiasts are able to replant their plumies, an affectionate name given to them by their growers, and enjoy their sensuous fragrances again.
But these tropical beauties can also be grown successfully indoors all year long with the use of special plant lights which create the tropical sunlight that plumerias enjoy in their natural habitat. This is why plumerias, frangipani, can be grown outside their natural subtropical and tropical zones as these grow lights imitate over 90 percent of the available sunlight.
Plumerias can be grown successfully from seeds, cuttings, or as rooted plants both indoors and outdoors following tried and tested guidelines. All plumerias grow best in fast draining soil, ample sunshine and, or plant lights, proper airflow and humidity, good proper fertilization, and knowledgeable insect and disease controlled methods.
When growing frangipani outside, proper fertilizing is more important than the tropical sun. Plumerias are grown outside as far north as Alaska. But plumerias need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight or fourteen to sixteen hours of grow lights in order to bloom.
As more and more gardeners are discovering the beauty and popularity of plumerias, frangipani, more information becomes available.
Author: Bob Walsh
