Plumeria (Plumeria rubra): The Lei Flower of the Tropics

Plumeria rubra, known as Plumeria, Frangipani, Nosegay, or Temple Tree, is a small, deciduous tree famous for its stunning, fragrant, five-petaled flowers used in Hawaiian leis. It's the essence of tropical fragrance and beauty.

Botanical Profile

Culture & Aloha

Native to Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela, this tree reaches 15–25 feet tall with a broad, open canopy and thick, succulent branches. The leaves are large, obovate, clustered at branch tips. Flowers are 2–4 inches wide, in shades of pink, red, yellow, white, and multicolor, with a sweet, fruity fragrance. Blooms spring to fall.

It requires full sun, well-drained soil, and dry winters (deciduous). Hardy only to 32°F (0°C); zones 10–11. In cooler zones, grow in containers and overwinter dry and cool (50–55°F). The milky sap is toxic. A symbol of the tropics, essential for lei-making, and a magnificent specimen for frost-free gardens.