Frangipani, Templetree, Mexican Plumeria, Red Plumeria, Pagoda Tree

Description:

The flowers are clustered at the branch tips. The individual flowers are tubular, 2 inches (5 cm) across, and have 5 broadly to narrowly 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 spirally arranged and clustered at the tips of the thick, fleshy, knobbly, brown branches. The plants have an open, branching form.

Habitat:

Hawaii Native Status: Cultivated. This ornamental garden plant and lei flower is native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Venezuela.

Notes:

Here in Hawaii, Frangipani is a popular garden plant in tropical lowland areas. The plants are typically propagated by stem cuttings. The similar Singapore Plumeria (Plumeria obtusa) is evergreen and has shiny, round-tipped leaves, while White Frangipani (Plumeria alba) does not have red-tinged flowers, buds, or flower stalks. Fragrant – The flowers are very fragrant and are often made into leis or worn in the hair. Poisonous – The white, milky sap is toxic and can irritate the skin.