How To Successfully Care For And Grow A Plumeria Plant

Plumeria is the genus classification name for a sweet-scented flowering plant found naturally in sub-tropical and tropical climate zones. This scientific name comes from Charles Plumier, the Franciscan monk and botanist who first identified it in the 17th century. It received its common name of frangipani from an Italian marquess, with the surname Frangipani, who used it to create perfume. Both names, plumeria and frangipani, are used interchangeably today.

Plumaria is the national flower of both Nicaragua and Laos, where it symbolizes immortality and is revered as sacred within Buddhist culture. Its sheer beauty and delightful scent gain it a prominent place within Hawaiian culture as well. There, it is often used in the creation of traditional floral garlands, also known as leis. According to With Our Aloha, the plumeria flower holds significant uplifting symbolism, particularly in the areas of beginnings and love.

The plant itself is a tree with bent branches, gray bark, luscious green leaves, and small pinwheel shaped blossoms that grow in clusters. Frangipanis will continue to bloom for many months of the year, and, depending on the variety, these flowers primarily come in whites, yellows, oranges, and reds. Easy to care for and heavenly scented, All About Frangipanis calls plumerias "great survivors" because they will come back to life after being ignored for a time or suffering from drought.

Growing a plumeria from seed will take time and careful attention. Per The Spruce, the first step to take is testing the viability of your seeds by soaking them in water. Simply put, seeds that float could be dead. So, go with the seeds that sink to the bottom. When you have your seeds sorted, you'll need to arrange them correctly in seedling trays by burying the thicker end into the soil and leaving the thinner end, or wing, slightly protruding. Keep the soil moist. It may take several weeks to see progress. Seedlings can be transitioned to a grow pot and gradually moved into direct sunlight after they've grown to be a few inches tall.

Propagation through cuttings is an easier, though equally time-consuming, way to grow a new plumeria plant. You'll need sharpened gardening shears, rooting powder, and a well-draining soil mix. In springtime, look for an established branch with gray bark and cut off a 16- to 18-inch piece. Next remove all of the leaves except those at the very top of the cutting. This cutting will need to harden for at least one week. Once the cut end has become calloused, dip it first in water, then in rooting powder. Now it's ready to be transferred to a pot with your soil mix. Water your cutting generously but be careful not to overwater in the coming weeks so that you avoid root rot.

According to the Plumeria Society of America, there are over 350 varieties of plumeria. That said, All Things Frangipani brings that number down to four when considering the popular varieties you are most likely to come across. Topping the list is Plumeria Rubra. For the strongest scent and the most color options, this is your go to. Flowers can be white, yellow, orange, pink, red, or multi-colored. Each bloom will have five tightly wound petals opening out into the shape of a pinwheel. Rubra have long and pointy deep green leaves and are the largest growers of this genus.

Here are three other common varieties:

• Plumeria Obtusa

  Try this variety if you like pink and white flowers, as those are the only options. Plumeria Obtusa is evergreen, meaning it can keep its leaves year-round. This plant has less pointy leaves than Rubra. Flower petals open farther and fold back a bit on the ends.

• Plumeria Stenophylla (pictured above)

  Stenophylla leaves and flowers are long and slender. The space between petals is bigger, giving blooms a stringy look. Stenophylla flowers are always white or cream.

• Plumeria Pudica

  This variety can also be evergreen when planted in a warm climate zone. Its leaves are noticeably different with wide heart-shaped tips. There is a rare pink cultivar, but Pudica flowers are usually white or cream.

One thing all frangipani plants have in common is their delicate beauty. Whichever variety you choose, this is a plant you are sure to love!

Gardening Know How notes that the best time to repot a plumeria plant is fall and winter during its natural season of dormancy. Potted plants like a snug home, so choose a pot that is only one size up from the original. Also, make sure you have clean gardening shears or scissors nearby to trim excessive and/or dead roots. Plumeria trees can tolerate many different soil conditions, but they will start to die if left in standing water. Therefore, whichever soil mix you choose, the most important quality is that it be well-draining. Plumeria 101 recommends perlite and sand as potential additives if increased drainage is necessary.

A potted plumeria should be repotted once a year. Roots sneaking out of drainage holes or encircling the root ball are sure signs that it's time. It's a good idea to loosen and trim the roots for two reasons. First, trimming encourages new growth, which keeps your plant healthy. Second, loosening the root ball allows the roots to spread out and cling better to their new soil home.

Loosening, or teasing out, the roots is so important The Spruce has dedicated an entire article to it. Their top tips include pulling your fingers through tightly wound roots, the same way you would through your hair, and having a gentle touch. But don't stress if you break a few roots. The point of this process is to send a message to the plant to grow new ones.