L.
Apocynaceae
Plumeria acuminata Ait.
Plumeria acutifolia Poir.
Plumeria angustifolia A.DC.
Plumeria arborea Noronha
Plumeria arborescens G.Don
Plumeria aurantia Endl.
Plumeria aurantia Lodd. ex G.Don
Plumeria aurantiaca Steud.
Plumeria bicolor Ruiz & Pav.
Plumeria carinata Ruiz & Pav.
Plumeria conspicua G.Don
Plumeria gouanii D.Don ex G.Don
Plumeria incarnata Mill.
Plumeria jamesonii Hook.
Plumeria kerrii G.Don
Plumeria kunthiana Kostel.
Plumeria lambertiana Lindl.
Plumeria loranthifolia Müll.Arg.
Plumeria lutea Ruiz & Pav.
Plumeria mariaelenae J.F.Gut. & J.Linares
Plumeria megaphylla A.DC.
Plumeria mexicana G.Lodd.
Plumeria milleri G.Don
Plumeria mollis Kunth
Plumeria northiana Lodd. ex G.Don
Plumeria purpurea Ruiz & Pav.
Plumeria tenuifolia Lodd. ex G.Don
Plumeria tricolor Ruiz & Pav.
Common Name: Frangipani
Cultivated flowering plant
Photograph by: Zachi Evenor
Cultivated flowering plant
Photograph by: Zachi Evenor
Close-up of the flowers
Photograph by: Zachi Evenor
Pink-flowered form
Photograph by: Gul Kiyani
Open seedpod containing seeds
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
Latex seeping from cut stem
Photograph by: Reinaldo Aguilar
Flowering stem
Photograph by: Reinaldo Aguilar
General Information
Plumeria rubra is a deciduous, semi-succulent shrub or small tree with a broad crown that is often as wide as the tree is tall; it can grow up to 12 metres tall in the wild but is usually smaller in cultivation[
331
- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. The boles of wild trees can be 25cm in diameter[
331
- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
362
- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
- Author
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
].
The plant is often used as a herbal remedy. One of the most common and best known ornamental trees cultivated in the tropics[
302
- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
]. It is often planted near Asian temples, where the fragrant flowers are picked daily as religious offerings[
307
- Title
- Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide.
- Publication
- Author
- Barwick. M.
- Publisher
- Thames & Hudson, London
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
- 0-500-51181-0
- Description
- A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
].
Known Hazards
The latex found in the stems of the plant is toxic but not deadly unless taken in large quantities[
307
- Title
- Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide.
- Publication
- Author
- Barwick. M.
- Publisher
- Thames & Hudson, London
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
- 0-500-51181-0
- Description
- A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
].
Botanical References
200
- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
331
- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
Range
Western S. America - Colombia and Venezuela, through mesoamerica to central Mexico.
Habitat
Dry, hot areas[
302
- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
]. Dry, rocky lowland[
307
- Title
- Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide.
- Publication
- Author
- Barwick. M.
- Publisher
- Thames & Hudson, London
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
- 0-500-51181-0
- Description
- A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
]. Rather dry, often rocky forest and mountain slopes, occasionally on plains or in brushy savannahs, usually at elevations from 500 - 1,000 metres, but can be found up to 1,500 metres[
332
- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Tree |
| Height | 7.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Pollinators | Moths |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Frangipani is a plant of hot, dry to moderate rainfall areas, at elevations up to 600 metres[
362
- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
- Author
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
]. Plants succeed in climates with a pronounced dry season, when they are deciduous and flower on the bare branches, as well as in more humid conditions when they will remain evergreen[
200
- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
One of the easiest of trees to grow, it is adaptable to most soil conditions though it prefers a fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny position[
302
- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
,
307
- Title
- Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide.
- Publication
- Author
- Barwick. M.
- Publisher
- Thames & Hudson, London
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
- 0-500-51181-0
- Description
- A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
]. Plants are very tolerant of salt-laden winds[
307
- Title
- Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide.
- Publication
- Author
- Barwick. M.
- Publisher
- Thames & Hudson, London
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
- 0-500-51181-0
- Description
- A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
,
362
- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
- Author
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
]. Established plants are very salt tolerant[
307
- Title
- Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide.
- Publication
- Author
- Barwick. M.
- Publisher
- Thames & Hudson, London
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
- 0-500-51181-0
- Description
- A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
].
The soft, thick branches bleed profusely if broken[
200
- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The branches are fleshy, but brittle[
283
- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
Edible Uses
The flowers are eaten in sweetmeats[
301
- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Medicinal
Frangipani contains a number of medically active constituents and has been shown to be uterine stimulant,
antifungal, antibacterial, antitumor, antiviral, analgesic, antispasmodic, and hypoglycaemic[
311
- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
- Author
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
]. The plant contains fulvoplumierin, which has antibiotic activity and inhibits the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis[
311
- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
- Author
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
The bark is abortifacient and purgative[
272
- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
,
283
- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
]. The juice of the bark is considered an effective treatment for gonorrhoea and venereal sores[
272
- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
]. The scraped bark is used to treat scabies and wounds from poisonous fish[
311
- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
- Author
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
]. The juice of the bark is also used to treat amoebic dysentery[
272
- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].
A poultice of the leaves is used to treat muscular swellings[
272
- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].
The milky juice (latex) is used to treat boils and rheumatic pain[
272
- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
]. It is also applied to remove worms or germs from wounds[
272
- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
]. It is used to treat the pain of toothache[
348
- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The sap is used to treat stings of wasps and bees, as well as centipede bites[
311
- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
- Author
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
A decoction of the flowers is used in treating cough, constipation, acute enteritis, dysentery and haemophilia[
283
- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
Other Uses
An essential oil is obtained from the flowers[
302
- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
].
The flowers are used to scent coconut oil[
339
- Title
- Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
- Publication
- Author
- W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors)
- Website
- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents
- Publisher
- United Nations University Press, Tokyo
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 92-808-0824-9
- Description
- The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above.
].
All parts of the plant yield a milky latex[
283
- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
]
The tree is supposed to produce a rubber[
46
- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
The wood is yellowish brown with faint purplish streaks, giving it a pleasing appearance[
331
- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. It is hard, compact and very fine textured[
331
- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. It takes a high polish and, although often quire small, is employed in some regions for articles of turnery[
331
- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
Propagation
Seed -
Stem tip cuttings[
200
- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Allow to dry for several days before rooting in a cool, shaded position in a well-drained medium kept on the dry side until roots have formed[
200
- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Quite large limbs root easily[
307
- Title
- Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide.
- Publication
- Author
- Barwick. M.
- Publisher
- Thames & Hudson, London
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
- 0-500-51181-0
- Description
- A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
].
Layering.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-07. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Plumeria+rubra>
Add a Comment:
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
