Fragrant tropical plant from Latin America with white-pink-red flowers

Plumeria rubra, also known as the Frangipani tree, transports you into the realm of scents with sweet perfumes and flowers whose purity is only surpassed by the sure enchantment of your sense of smell. This flower, a symbol of Laos, has inspired many peoples around the world: Laotians imagine it to be home to ghosts and demons, Malaysians associate it with vampires, and Polynesians make the Frangipani flower a guarantor of the state of their love life. You can approach a young girl wearing the flower in her right ear, but beware of the one wearing it in her left ear, her heart is already taken!

If you seek immortality, look no further, Plumeria rubra is there for you! Playing a role in some countries similar to our yew tree in cemeteries, it stands in the courtyards of Buddhist temples. It is said that every branch of the Frangipani tree planted in the ground gives rise to a new specimen, hence its immortality.

The species occurs naturally from Mexico to Guyana and Ecuador. It has been planted and naturalized in many tropical regions and is also cultivated as a potted plant in Sweden.

Botanical description

Plumeria rubra was first described by Carl Linnaeus and appeared in the 1753 edition of 'Species Plantarum'. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ruber "red".

The common name "frangipani" comes from the Italian Frangipani family, whose marquis invented a plumeria-scented perfume in the 16th century.

Care

Your plant thrives best outdoors in summer; full sun is perfect for it. It should be brought indoors in winter and preferably placed in a warm and bright location, such as in a conservatory or behind a window. It fears excessive humidity when temperatures are low, so avoid cold rooms.

Note: do not move it in and out constantly; it should be taken out in good weather and then brought in when the cold arrives, as plants adapt their foliage to their environment, which should not be constantly changed. It often happens that plants lose their foliage when they are taken out and/or brought in; don't worry, your plant will adapt and grow new foliage afterward.

Frangipani trees lose their leaves in winter and go dormant, so watering should almost completely stop during this period.

This plant tolerates pruning, but we do not recommend it as flowering will then take longer to occur. Buy Plumeria rubra | Temple Flower online!