Lei Flowers: Growing Plumeria from a Hawaiian Cutting

Travelers to Hawaii often bring home a tropical plant cutting as a living reminder. Few have a 12-foot-tall tree to show for it like Steve Grayson and Barbara Kriz. Fifteen years ago, the San Rafael couple bought a plumeria cutting in the Maui airport, potted it, kept it near the fireplace in cool months and in an uncovered atrium in warm months. It grew modestly but produced no fragrant flowers—until one spring day three years later.

Steve covered the atrium with a translucent material called Filon. The plumeria flourished: it required repotting twice and eventually rooted through its container. The couple has since added bromeliads, gardenia, ginger, hibiscus, other tropicals, and a fountain to the atrium.