Sexy Plumeria Flower Native to Mexico
Tara A. Spears
Most people think of these fragrant flowers, made famous by travel ads with leis, as frangipani but their actual name is Plumeria. These unique and unforgettable flowers are native to Mexico and were transported to other countries centuries ago.
Nothing evokes that tropical feeling quite like the frangipani. Their sweet scent and sheer beauty make them universally loved and the blooms look sensational on the tree and as a cut flower.
Frangipani (Plumeria rubra) is native to tropical and subtropical Mexico. There are more than 300 varieties of frangipani. Most plumeria trees are deciduous, growing to about eight meters (25 ft) high and four meters (15 ft) wide. The tree grows slowly, only about 30 cm (1 foot) a year.
The frangipani webpage describes the flowers as follows: “the flowers are clustered at the branch tips. The individual flowers are tubular, two inches (5 cm) across, and have five broad to narrow oval lobes with yellow at their base. The flower stalks, flower buds, and the outside of the petals are reddish or tinged with red. The flowers emerge before the leaves in the springtime. The flowers are sometimes followed by dry, brown, cylindrical, 5 inch (12 cm) long seed follicles containing winged seeds. The leaves are matte green, leathery, and narrowly elliptic in shape with a distinctive pointed tip. The leaves are arranged in a spiral at the tips of the thick, fleshy, brown branches. The plants have an open, branching form.”
Frangipani prefers dry, warm and frost-free climates. It’s important to plant them where the top gets at least 6 hours sun but the roots are in shade. Plumerias are generally grown from cuttings- ask a friend who has one for a small piece or go to a local nursery for more mature starts. The Plumeria actually love neglect, they are very easy to care for.
Frangipanis thrive in well-drained sandy soil. They will not do well in water retaining clay soils in which the plant roots and stem will rot and die. Frangipanis are very tolerant of dry conditions. Young plants need water once a week in summer when the soil is dry. The mature plants are drought tolerant and needs less water. But prolonged dry spells will turn leaves yellow and cause them to drop. Too much water can rot roots and stems. Limit watering and avoid over-watering in winter. Spongy stem shows that it’s rotten; if that happens, cut it from the junction with the main branch to stop the spread of rot.
The plumeria was important to the ancient Mexican indigenous people, appearing in both Mayan and Aztec carvings. In Mesoamerica, plumerias have carried complex symbolic significance for over two millennia, with striking examples from the Maya and Aztec periods into the present. Among the Maya, plumerias have been associated with deities representing life and fertility, and the flowers also became strongly connected with female sexuality. Nahuatl-speaking people during the height of the Aztec Empire used plumerias to signify elite status, and planted plumeria trees in the gardens of nobles.
The plumeria flower has diverse meaning and symbolism in different cultures. It is believed in many countries that ghosts seek a habitat in the trees of plumeria. It is used extensively as incense and in offerings in rituals and rites because the frangipani flower represent natural beauty, dedication and devotion.
The plumeria growing habit makes it a perfect addition to a home garden because it thrives in the ground as well as in a pot due to its slow growth and a small root ball. Frangipanis are therefore an ideal choice for balconies, terraces, roof gardens and patios.
The only caution is that frangipani flowers mildly poisonous to pets and humans. Most parts of frangipanis are toxic, therefore eating leaves or flowers can irritate the digestive tract. The milky sap in the plant is mildly poisonous. When animals like dogs and cats ingest whole flowers they can develop vomiting, diarrhea and excessive salivation.
Most familiar in their white and yellow form, the exotic frangipani also comes in loads of tropical and sunset colors, becoming more colorful the closer to the equator you go. Plumeria are also tough plants that can survive neglect, heat and drought and still fill the garden with a wonderful perfume. What more could you ask for in the garden?