Plumeria Rubra Frangipani: Fact Sheet ST-491
Plumeria Rubra Frangipani: Fact Sheet ST-491
Plumeria Rubra Frangipani: Fact Sheet ST-491
INTRODUCTION
Frangipani is well-known for its intensely fragrant, lovely, spiral-shaped, reddish blooms which appear at branch tips June through November (Fig. 1). The tree itself is rather unusual in appearance; the 12 to 20inch-long, coarse, deciduous leaves cluster only at the tips of the rough, blunt, sausage-like, thick, grey-green branches. Branches are upright and rather crowded on the trunk forming a vase or umbrella shape with age. They are rather soft and brittle and can break but are usually sturdy unless they are mechanically hit or disturbed. The crown loses its leaves for a short time during the winter displaying the coarse-textured, stubby branches. A milky sap is exuded from the branches when they are bruised or punctured.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Scientific name: Plumeria rubra Pronunciation: ploo-MEER-ee-uh ROO-bruh Common name(s): Frangipani Family: Apocynaceae USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11 (Fig. 2) Origin: not native to North America Uses: container or above-ground planter; large
DESCRIPTION
Height: 20 to 25 feet Spread: 20 to 25 feet Crown uniformity: symmetrical canopy with a
parking lot islands (> 200 square feet in size); wide tree lawns (>6 feet wide); medium-sized parking lot islands (100-200 square feet in size); medium-sized tree lawns (4-6 feet wide); recommended for buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings in the highway; near a deck or patio; small parking lot islands (< 100 square feet in size); narrow tree lawns (3-4 feet wide); specimen; sidewalk cutout (tree pit); residential street tree; no proven urban tolerance
regular (or smooth) outline, and individuals have more or less identical crown forms Crown shape: round; vase shape Crown density: open Growth rate: slow Texture: coarse
1. 2.
This document is adapted from Fact Sheet ST-491, a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: October 1994. Edward F. Gilman, associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Dennis G. Watson, associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.
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Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate (Fig. 3) Leaf type: simple Leaf margin: entire; undulate Leaf shape: elliptic (oval); obovate Leaf venation: banchidodrome; pinnate Leaf type and persistence: deciduous Leaf blade length: 12 to 18 inches; 8 to 12 inches Leaf color: green Fall color: red Fall characteristic: not showy
Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; inconspicuous and not showy; no significant litter problem; persistent on the tree
Flower
Flower color: pink; red Flower characteristics: fall flowering; pleasant
Fruit
Fruit Fruit Fruit Fruit shape: elongated length: 6 to 12 inches covering: dry or hard color: brown
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Culture
Light requirement: tree grows in part shade/part sun;
tree grows in full sun Soil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; acidic; alkaline; well-drained Drought tolerance: high Aerosol salt tolerance: high Soil salt tolerance: moderate
Other
Roots: surface roots are usually not a problem Winter interest: tree has winter interest due to
unusual form, nice persistent fruits, showy winter trunk, or winter flowers Outstanding tree: tree has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more Invasive potential: little, if any, potential at this time Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
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Pests
Some common pests are scales, frangipani caterpillar, and nematodes.
Diseases
Root rot can infect plants planted in soils with poor drainage.