How to Grow a Plumeria Tree (2024)

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Plumerias are tropical and won’t tolerate any freezingtemperatures.

If that’s not your location, don’t worry. They can be grown well in large containers, as long as you can rustle up the muscle to move them inside in autumn–when temps reach the 40s–and back outside inspring.

Whether in a container or in the ground, they prefer fertile, well-draining soil and fullsun.

Plumeria may be purchased at nurseries in spring and summer; however, they may not be offered if you live farther north. Rooted cuttings can be purchased online. Expect a plant grown from a cutting to bloom in 1 to 3years.

When to PlantPlumerias

If you are planting your new frangipani out into a bed, do so in late spring, early summer, or early autumn. Deciduous varieties, in particular, need to be planted early enough to establish their root systems before going dormant for thewinter.

How to PlantPlumerias

Plumeria can be planted in the ground for warm climate gardeners, in planters, or in containers that are seasonally buried in the ground and dug up in fall.

• Especially for containers, good drainage is essential. Sitting in wet soil can cause rootrot.
• Plant outdoors in the same manner as other shrubs. Prepare the site by digging a wide, saucer-shapedhole.
• Place the plumeria in the hole after cutting any girdling roots. Adjust the height to match the new soil level with the old pottedlevel.
• Backfill with native soil and topdress with compost. Tamp in lightly but firmly to avoid large air voids. Mulch to suppress weeds and condition thesoil.
• Water in well, and then again weekly if rainfall was insufficient. Once the shrub is established, it should only need watering during dryperiods.
• Plumerias planted in containers need an excellent draining potting mix. Try using potting soil intended for palms or cacti, or make your own by adding perlite to regular pottingmix.

Bright, warm sunshine, good drainage, and frequent admiration are all your plumeria needs to make fragrant, gorgeous blooms.

• Plumerias enjoy tropical conditions. Water deeply with periods in between to allow the soil to slightlydry.
• Plumeria can be fertilized with a high phosphorus fertilizer–bloom booster–during the growingseason.
• Prune plumeria for size and shape in latewinter.
• Container-grown plumerias will need repotting as they grow. Don’t plant a small one-foot-tall shrub in a ten-gallon container. The roots won’t be able to adequately use the moisture in the soil, and wet, soggy conditions could result. Instead, upgrade one pot size eachtime.

Overwintering

Plumerias in containers must be brought inside to overwinter if you live in an area where it freezes.
As the day gets shorter and the sunlight lessens, your deciduous plumeria will go dormant. The leaves will turn yellow and fall off. Don’t worry, that’s okay. You can speed this up by snipping thepetioles.

• Once dormant, store in any location–light or no light–that will remain above 40degrees.
• Although they should not need watering while dormant, do still check. Dry winter air can cause dormant plants to die of desiccation as the soil in the pot dries too much. The soil should feel neutral, not bone dry, and not damp. Add a little water ifneeded.
• In spring, once temperatures have warmed, reintroduce your plumeria to the outdoors. Begin watering again, but take care to adjust. Your plant won’t use much water until it sprouts newleaves.

• P. rubra ‘Aztec gold’ blooms in dreamy yellow-peach colors with large 3-4 inchflowers.
• P. rubra ‘Candy Stripe’ forms pinwheel blossoms in a kaleidoscope of fuchsia, orange, yellow andwhite.
• P. rubra ‘Vera Cruz Rose’ is another deciduous variety with highly overlapped and folded petals that transition from light pink to white with deep goldencenters.
• P. alba is an evergreen with white flowers, yellow centers, and strikingfoliage.

Want to learn how to harvest plumeria flowers for a lei? Check out this pamphlet by the University ofHawaii.

Andy Wilcox