Growing Plumeria

The first thing that comes to mind at the mention of growing plumeria is the image of ladies sporting frangipani flowers above the ear while vacationing in the islands. Plumeria trees produce very sweet smelling flowers. You walk 30 feet away from the plant and still, the smell of the flowers comes calling! Perfumes are made of and named after this very flower because of its fragrance and popularity.

Growing plumeria either indoors or outdoors is possible if you put in a little effort.

Plumeria bush in foreground with trees behind at the Maui Tropical Plantation.

A fully-grown plant can be as tall as 40 feet and almost 20 feet wide. In non-tropical areas however, it doesn’t grow that tall. Usually, the plant has a single trunk with multiple branches, which look like an open umbrella from beneath. Its dark green leathery leaves are clustered and grow at the tip of branches. The flowers, which are 2-3 inches in diameter, appear in three different colors: white, yellow and pink. The blooming season is from late spring to late fall. The leaves shed completely in the fall and give a bare look to the plant.

The plant prefers a warm and humid climate, abundant sun and well-draining soil and is not cold hardy. The plant survives a lowest temperature of 32 F at USDA Zone 10a.

So if you live in a non-tropical area, plant it in a pot so that it is easier to take the plant indoors when temperatures drop below 60 degrees F.

Be sure to get it in before frost strikes. The branch tips are most vulnerable to cold damage. If you forget and leave the plant outdoors too late into the fall, watch it closely for frost damage. Unlike with most other plants, you can't wait until spring to remove the damaged portions. Freezing leads to rot very quickly in plumeria trees. Remove the damaged tissue as soon as you notice it. If you don't, the rot will spread downward to the root and kill the plant.

Also if planted in ground, it grows very large while in pot, it just fills the pot’s capacity. Use a 12-15 inch pot.

Remember not to water the plant when the leaves fall, water only when there are leaves on the plant. Keep it moist during hot weather, nearly dry the rest of the year.

Growing plumeria is addictive and you will soon be looking to propagate your frangipani plant. This is possible with stem cuttings or by sowing seeds. If you plan to sow seeds, allow the seed heads to dry on the plants and later when the pods split, you can sow the seeds in warm, moist soil. Expect sprouts any time between 2 to 12 weeks later. Water moderately. When leaves appear, you can either transplant the seedlings into individual pots.

If you intend to use stem cuttings, take stems that are either hard, semi ripe or soft but the length should be a little more than 1 foot. A clean cut is preferred and it is ideal to dry the wound before planting the cuttings in shade. When leaves are out, you can plant them directly in sun either in pot or in ground. Give it a fertilizer rich in nitrogen every two weeks during its growth and phosphorous rich fertilizer during the flowering season.

You can prune your plumeria immediately after it finishes flowering to keep it compact. Growing Plumeria is not a hard task if you just follow the basic needs of the plant. The plant needs extra care only in the cold months. In other seasons, it thrives pretty much on its own.

Frangipani Plumeria Uses

Frangipani plumeria uses are many. Since the 16th century when the frangipani flower was discovered, people have been finding ways to enhance their lives with this marvelous scent.

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