Do you say Frangipani or Plumeria?
Plumeria is the Latin or Botanical name, but I just love saying frangipani over and over again, especially if I stub my toe while hiking. My other word, as some of you may remember, is Fubuki.
Love them, tee hee.
When I walk to the pool, I walk past a whole row of frangipani trees, and the spent blossoms laying on the path scent the air as I pass. We are just at the end of the bloom cycle, they flower from April to November, so they give me something special to enjoy during the long hot summer. Each flower is fairly short lived, but there is a lot in a cluster so it goes on and on.
Plumeria trees are also known as Temple Trees because they are usually planted in front of temples in Asia due to their fragrant flowers. The flowers are also popular in Hawaii which are used to make flower necklaces (leis).
I always think of them as a Hallowe’en tree as they look quite eerie when the leaves have dropped.
Pink plumeria is decidious while the white is evergreen.
Their thick, succulent leaves can grow to 10-inches long or more, but their beauty is in their flowers. Now, you must excuse me, I am off to get my fragrance fix before they are finished for another year.
I am a floral designer living in a tiny condo in downtown Toronto, Canada's largest city. But on the weekend, I am a gardener/frustrated architect trying to keep up with a 3/4 acre garden in Owen Sound, Ontario, a warm (to Canadians, Zone 5b, and a cold (to Americans, Zone 4b) garden.
Green Theatre 
paulinemulligan said,
November 21, 2012 @ 3:46 AM
Lovely perfumed flowers, have only met them on holidays when we have enjoyed their wonderful perfume.
kilbournegrove said,
December 5, 2012 @ 5:08 AM
They are so beautiful and very waxy.
Heather @ new house, new home, new life said,
November 21, 2012 @ 7:11 AM
First discovered this wonderful flower outside of an old church on the island of Barbados. I’ll never forget their fragrance. I had been working with a cosmetics company and one of their products was a frangipani shower gel which I loved. We stumbled onto this tree and I was delighted to experience the fragrance in it’s natural state. Love it!
kilbournegrove said,
December 5, 2012 @ 5:17 AM
Who has the shower gel? I would love to try it.
sharon said,
November 21, 2012 @ 8:01 PM
I have perfume mad of them! love
kilbournegrove said,
December 5, 2012 @ 5:08 AM
Oh, that sound gorgeous, I shall have to keep an eye out.
Marguerite said,
November 22, 2012 @ 7:46 PM
Those flowers are so gorgeous. I remember seeing these years ago when travelling in Indonesia. I think I tried to press some at the time but they are so succulent and wet they just seemed to rot. Glad to get to internet admire them now.
kilbournegrove said,
December 5, 2012 @ 5:10 AM
They are very thick and waxy, certainly will not dry.
Mario Mirelez said,
November 24, 2012 @ 12:52 PM
Wow. Really beautiful flowers. I particularly love the white ones with the lovely yellow center. I was not familiar with Plumeria until this post. Thanks!
kilbournegrove said,
December 5, 2012 @ 5:10 AM
They are a gorgeous flower, the tree is a bit unusual.
Patty said,
November 25, 2012 @ 11:46 AM
I first heard of Frangipani as a perfume. Then I saw the flowers while on a holiday in the Dominican Republic and came to know them as Plumeria. Either way they are a beautiful flower.
kilbournegrove said,
December 5, 2012 @ 5:11 AM
I do not know why I have never noticed a perfume with them in, shall have to look.
Alistair said,
November 26, 2012 @ 12:23 PM
I wish they grew here, they are frangipani fabulous.
kilbournegrove said,
December 5, 2012 @ 5:11 AM
Oooh, you are such a poet.