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Plumeria (Frangipani) Care: Blooming, Pollination, and Basics

Plumeria (often misspelled "Plumera") is a tropical deciduous shrub/tree famous for its fragrant, waxy flowers used in leis. It does not require separate male and female plants—each flower has both male (stamens) and female (pistil) parts.

Blooming requirements:

Maturity: Seedlings take 3–5 years; cuttings bloom in 1–2 years.
Light: Full sun (6+ hours).
Temperature: Warm days (70–90°F), nights above 55°F. Cool/dry winter rest promotes flowering.
Fertilizer: High phosphorus (e.g., 10-30-10) during growing season.
Water: Deep, infrequent watering; let soil dry between.

Pollination: Insects (moths, bees) transfer pollen. Hand-pollinate with a small brush if indoors. Seed pods take 8–10 months to mature.

Resources: Plumeria Society of America, GardenWeb's Plumeria forum.

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