Pinecrest Gardens Blog: Plumerias, Associated With Ghosts? What Else Should We Know About These Tropical Beauties!?

Press release from Pinecrest Gardens Blog:

August 03, 2021

 Plumeria continues to be one of my favorite choices for South Florida. Its list of pros outweighs its list of cons by a mile, making it a no-brainer for easy care landscaping. Though most of us probably recognize Plumeria (aka Frangipani), I wonder how much we actually know about this plant?

Let's uncover a few new things about plumeria today!  Maybe, just maybe, I can convince you to grow them at home...

Plumeria is a small tree that is native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.  It is most often associated with Hawaii, and for good reason. Plumeria are the most common flower found in Hawaiian Leis. The plant was actually brought to Hawaii in 1850 by a German physicist and biologist, so there was a time that Hawaiian leis were made sans Plumeria. The plants are now considered extremely common for the island, as they do well in Hawaii's volcanic soils. As for us in the continental United States, Plumeria has become popular and is on its way to common in warmer climates like South Florida. 

So, what do we need to know about growing these tropical beauties?

growing these tropical beauties

Generally speaking, Plumeria are easy to grow. Since they root easily by cutting, all you need to do, is prune your plumeria branches, allow the cut to callus over, and then stick them into soil. In a few weeks, they should be rooted in and ready. It will take about 2-4 months for the root ball to become mature. Water often as they get established, and then back off watering (especially in our rainy season). 

Aside from being easy to grow and suitable for our climate, plumerias are interesting. They boast incredibly fragrant flowers, and there are so many varieties to choose from. Here's some fun facts about Plumerias to peak your interest:

This press release was produced by Pinecrest Gardens Blog. The views expressed here are the author’s own.