Plumeria (genus)

Japanese name: プルメリア
Scientific name: Plumeria

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub to small tree.
White latex comes out when the branches or leaves are damaged.
The trunk is soft and fleshy, and branches in a false dichotomous manner.
Leaf scars are conspicuous on the branches.
The leaves are simple and alternate, with pinnate veins and entire margins.
The flowers are borne in dense spike-like inflorescences at the branch tips.
The flowers are salverform to funnel-shaped with 5 lobes, fleshy, and have a waxy gloss.
The flowers are fragrant, and their colors include white, yellow, pink and red.
The fruit is a follicle.

[Uses]
In Hawaii, the flowers are used to make leis.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
For cuttings, wash off the white latex by rinsing the cut end immediately in water or soaking it in water before inserting it.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
With poor sunlight it becomes leggy and flowers poorly.
In winter, bring it indoors to a sunny place.
To overwinter, 10°C or above is safe, but if kept on the dry side it can withstand temperatures close to 0°C.
Overly wet soil can cause root rot, and it is also tolerant of dryness, so water after the soil surface has dried, and keep it on the dry side in winter.
Apply slow-release fertilizer in spring to autumn.
Pests include scale insects and aphids.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)