Plumeria - Frangipani Tree

(Plumer'ia)

DESCRIPTION: These are evergreen, flowering shrubs from tropical America. They can grow 20 feet tall and are covered with lance-shaped, dark green leaves, 6-12 inches long. The fragrant, tubular flowers have five petals that curve up a bit at the edges and may be pink, red, white or yellow. They are produced in clusters and are 2-3 inches across. These plants grow well in all kinds of soil and flourish near the sea. They are cultivated outdoors in southern California and in southern Florida. They require a minimum winter temperature of 55 degrees.

POTTING: These plants can be grown in large pots or tubs in a greenhouse. Their soil should consist of two parts of loam, one part peat and a generous amount of sand. Plants that are already growing in large pots or tubs are kept active and healthy by top-dressing them with fresh compost in the spring. As soon as the flowers have faded, the side shoots should be pruned back to three or four buds. The branches should be sprayed off twice a day until the flowers start to open; after they have faded, that can be resumed. The soil must be kept moist from March to September, but during the rest of the year, it should only be watered when the soil becomes pretty dry.

PROPAGATION: Firm side shoots, 3-6 inches long, are cut off in March or April. A cut is made just below the bottom joint and the lower leaves are taken off. Insert the cuttings in sand, or sand and peat moss in a propagating case with a minimum temperature of 70 degrees. Keep the case closed, except when it's opened just long enough to wipe the excessive moisture from underneath the glass. As roots are formed, more air is given and they are soon transplanted in small pots and eventually placed on the greenhouse benches. In due time, the young plants are potted in 5-inch pots and so on as they grow.

VARIETIES: P. rubra (Frangipani - very fragrant, rose flowers w/ yellow eye) and its variety acutifolia (white w/ yellow eye), lutea (yellow), tricolor (white, rose & yellow); P. alba (fragrant, white flowers); P. emarginata (forms a sm. tree w/ white flowers).

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