🌸

Plumeria

Plumeria Rubra

Basic Details

Description

Floral Formula

Features

Translations

Basic Details

NamePlumeria

DescriptionIconic tropical tree with intensely fragrant waxy flowers in white, pink, red, yellow, and multicolors. Five-petaled blooms used in Hawaiian leis and temple offerings. Thick succulent branches with milky sap and clusters of large leaves at branch tips. Easy to grow from cuttings. Blooms spring through fall in warm climates. Deciduous in winter, losing leaves but retaining thick branches.

FamilyApocynaceae

GenusPlumeria

TribePlumerieae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaBr ⊕ ⚥ K(5) C(5) A5 G(2)

Bracteate (small bracts present), radially symmetrical (actinomorphic), bisexual, 5 fused sepals forming short tube, 5 fused petals forming tube with spreading lobes (salverform), 5 stamens attached to corolla tube, 2 fused carpels with superior ovary. Typical of Apocynaceae family

Features

Named after French botanist Charles Plumier. 'Frangipani' from Italian perfumer Marquis Frangipani - flowers smell like his perfume. About 11 Plumeria species. Common types: P. rubra (red/pink), P. alba (white), P. obtusa (Singapore white). Called Temple Tree - planted near temples and shrines
Flowers 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) across, 5 waxy petals forming pinwheel shape. Colors: white, pink, red, yellow, orange, multicolors (rainbow plumeria). Intensely fragrant, especially at night. Blooms spring-fall (March-November). Each cluster has 10-50 flowers. Blooms last 1-2 weeks on tree
Deciduous tree or large shrub. Thick, succulent branches with milky sap (toxic - causes skin irritation). Large leaves 8-16 inches long in clusters at branch ends. Loses leaves in winter (dormant). Branches remain thick and sculptural. Easily propagated from cuttings
Grows 6-25 feet (2-8 m) tall, can reach 40 feet in ideal conditions. Spread 10-15 feet. Lifespan 50+ years, some specimens over 100 years. Propagated from cuttings (root in 2-3 weeks) or seeds. Cuttings bloom in 1-3 years
Native to Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, parts of South America (Venezuela, Colombia). Now planted throughout tropics and subtropics worldwide. Naturalized in Hawaii, Florida, Southeast Asia. Thrives in warm coastal areas
Requires full sun (6-8 hours) for best blooming. Tolerates partial shade but fewer flowers. Needs well-drained soil - hates wet feet. Drought tolerant once established. Minimal watering in winter dormancy. Hardy zones 10-12, grown in containers elsewhere. Bring indoors before frost
Flowers used in Hawaiian leis, Polynesian garlands, temple offerings. Popular in tropical landscaping. Excellent container plant - can be kept small. Attracts sphinx moths for pollination. Deer resistant. WARNING: Milky sap irritates skin and eyes - wear gloves when pruning
Sacred in Hindu, Buddhist, Mayan cultures. Symbolizes new life, spring, devotion. Called cemetery flower in some cultures - planted in graveyards. Easy care - very forgiving. Can survive months without water. Prune to shape in late winter. Fertilize monthly during growth. Blooms on new wood

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificPlumeria Rubra

English (Alternate)Frangipani, Temple Tree, Pagoda Tree, Red Jasmine, Caterpillar Tree, Nosegay Tree, White Frangipani, Cagoda Tree

Hindiचम्पक (Champak), चंपा (Champa), गुलाचिन (Gulachin)

Tamil நெல ஸம்பங்கி (Nela Sampangi),பெருங்கள்ளி (Perunkalli), அரளி (Arali),

Teluguదేవ గన్నేరు (Deva Ganneru), నూరువరహాలు (Nuruvarahalu)

Malayalamഅരളി (Arali), ഈഴച്ചെമ്പകം (Ezhachampakam), വെള്ളച്ചെമ്പകം (Velachampakam), ചെമ്പകം (Chempakam), പാല (Pala)

Kannadaದೇವ ಕಣಗಿಲೆ (Deva Kanagile), ದೇವಗಣಿಗಲು (Devaganigalu), ಕಲ್ಲೆ ಹೂವು (Kalle Hoovu)

Sanskritचम्पक (Champaka), चम्पा (Champa)

Bengaliকাঠ গোলাপ (Kathgolap), চাঁপা (Champa)

FrenchFrangipanier

Russianплюмерия (plyumeriya)

Spanishfrangipani

GermanFrangipani, Rote Frangipani

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula

% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G₂

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.