Growing Frangipani
Often used in Hawaiian leis and as luau table decorations during hot summer months, frangipani is considered to be an exotic yet easy to grow flower. A member of the dogbane family, or Apocynaceae, frangipani is related to the milkweed plant and oleander. Due to its family association, frangipani is highly toxic when handling, whether during the planting stage, or cutting stems for a vase indoors. Frangipani is also known as Plumeria, which has a distinct flower shape resembling a propellor with its five petals forming delicate scoops. Frangipani comes in a variety of pastel colors, including yellow, pink, purple and white. It is the heavy fragrance of these flowers which contribute more to their exotic appeal, being a native of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. While frangipani may often be associated with Hawaii, it is not a native plant to this state but is grown abundantly there.
Since frangipani is a tropical plant, it can be planted outdoors in Hawaii, southern Texas, southern California, and Florida in zones 10 to 11 where it thrives in humid climates. Frangipani can be grown in pots intended as an indoor plant in zones 3 to 9, which can be moved outside during hot and humid summer months. Potted frangipani indoors during the cold winter months.
Most frangipani planted outside can grow to be from ten to thirty feet tall and twenty to twenty-five feet wide. There are many varieties of frangipani: Candy Stripe, Cerise, Pink Parfait, and Guillot Sunset, to name a few. Plumeria will blossom from the spring through early winter seasons.
If planting frangipani outside where it can survive a mild winter, select a sunny spot in your yard, or a spot which has partial shade. Frangipani can be planted as late as September in the ground. Ideally, the plant should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight. Prior to planting a frangipani bush, prepare the soil to make sure it is well drained, adding sand if necessary to improve drainage. Avoid planting frangipani in clay soil. Check the pH level of the soil, which should be 6.5 to 7. Add some organic matter to the alkaline soil. If available, wear safety goggles in addition to good gardening gloves when planting frangipani due its toxicity levels. Plant the frangipani shrub and cover the roots with the well-drained soil. Water the shrub well. Give the shrub one inch of watering per week. In between waterings, make sure the soil is dry before watering again. During the wintertime, frangipani planted outside does not need to be watered. Frangipani which has been planted indoors in a pot can be given one inch of water between two to three weeks. If planted in a pot intended as an indoor plant, frangipani can be kept in a room that has temperate humidity, such as a bathroom. If necessary, add a humidifier so the plant can thrive.
When it comes to fertilizing the frangipani shrub, measure a circle on the ground where the branches extend the farthest, as this will designate the location of where the fertilizer should be spread. Spread a thin line of the fertilizer on this circle, then water well. Use a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus, with iron and magnesium blended in for frangipani. During the spring to early fall season, apply the fertilizer every four to six weeks. During the late fall season, fertilize once every two to three months. Avoid fertilizing during the winter season when the plant is dormant. Frangipani leaves tend to droop once cooler temperatures arrive during the wintertime, which is normal.
While pruning a frangipani bush is not required, doing so will shape the bush in any desired shape or height. Pruning is best done during the early spring as this will encourage more blossoms during the growing season. Prune any dead or diseases branches or stems. For thick branches, use a saw instead of pruning shears. Overgrown branches can also be pruned to make the frangipani bush more attractive. Avoid cutting limbs at the very base of a branch as this will inhibit growth. Potted frangipani can be pruned down to a more manageable size once it reaches over ten feet tall.
Frangipani is susceptible to rust, which results in orange pustules underneath the leaves. These leaves can be snipped off and disposed of. Spray the rest of the remaining leaves which are healthy with Neem oil as this will prevent the rust from spreading. Frangipani is also susceptible to stem rot which normally occurs when the bush has experienced winter frost, old age, or limited sunlight. To test the health of a stem, stick in a sharp knife tip at the base of the stem. If a milky white sap emerges, that means the stem is healthy. In order to eliminate stem rot, prune off the diseased stems. In order to prevent any potential rot from being transferred between each time the pruning shears are used, dip the shears in hot water as a protective measure.
To propagate frangipani, cut some flower stems during the late spring or summer seasons and allow them to dry out with the flowers upright in a clean, empty glass container between one to four weeks. Once the bottom of the stem has dried out, place the cut stems into a second glass container which has been filled with a 50-50 mixture of coarse sand and water. Once a week, check to see if roots have started to develop. If the new roots are visible, these stems can be planted into a garden pot or directly into the ground.
Image Credit: Renesis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
