Plumeria is a flowering small tree in the Apocynaceae family, native to South America and the Caribbean islands. Nowadays it is grown as cosmopolitan ornamentals in tropical regions, especially in Hawaii and southeast asia, as well as hot desert climates in the Arabian Peninsula with proper irrigation.
Plumeria
Plumeria are small trees that can grow to 6m, but are usually kept pruned at 2.5m in gardens. The trunk and branches have a milky latex sap containing poisonous compounds that irritate the eyes and skin. The leaves grow at tips of the branches. The shape and arrangements of leaves varies on cultivars,some are narrow and dark-green color, others are elongated shape and glossy, but almost of them lose their leaves in the cold season. Plumeria bloom from early summer to fall. Its blossom grow in clusters on ends of the stems, white flowers from 5 to 10cm, with five rounded and waxy petals that overlap each other. These flowers come in many colours including pink, red, white and yellow, orange, or pastel. They are highly fragrant especially at night, their scent is perceived to have smells from some flowers like jasmine, citrus, and gardenia. However, they yield no nectar, attracting the pollinisator insects like sphinx moths only with the smell.
Highly used in tropical landscape, thanks to the endless variety of color, size and fragrance of flowers. It makes a ravishing specimen tree, completing the flowerbed border, and can also be grown in pot, bringing color and fragrance to terrace, patio and deck. In many countries of Asia, it has a religious symbol, and is planted in the gardens of hindou temples and bouddhist pagodas. In Malaysia and Indonesia, relate to death, it is common to plant it in Muslim cemeteries.
In South America, Plumeria has carried complex symbolic significance for over two millennia, from the Maya and Aztec periods into the present. Among the Maya, Plumeria have been associated with deities representing life and fertility, and the flowers also became strongly connected with female sexuality, while Aztec planted plumeria trees in the gardens of elite noble people. In Southeast Asia, it is associated with Buddhist temples. In several Pacific islands, the flowers are used for making leis (flower necklace for ceremonies). In modern Polynesian culture, the flower can be worn by women to indicate their relationship status—over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken. Plumeria is an ingredient in Indian incense, mix with other floral ingredients (Magnolia, Pelargonium, Vanilla).
Leaves and flowers are a bit poisonous, so beware of dog eating the fallen elements on the grass.
The tree cannot stand frost temperature below 4 degrees. Under 10 degrees, it will lose its leaves and go dormant. To bloom profusly, it require at least 6 hours of full sun, but can stand indirect sunlight. In hot period over 37 degrees, it is better to protect the flowers and leaves from the burning sun with a surrounding shade tree. It preferes a soil with a good drainage but can still keep a bit of humidity to sustain the water needs of the tree.
Water frequently the tree during blooming if the soil is dry. The tree doesn't need watering during the dormant seaon, that can make it rot. It is best to limit the pruning just if necessary, because the cut branches favorise the rotting.