Common Frangipani Species
Many Australians would be surprised to hear that there is more than one type of frangipani. This is more the case for people living in Melbourne and possibly Sydney where one frangipani species, the hardiest variety, grows much more abundantly than the other species. The hardiest variety of frangipani is known as the rubra (pronounced roo-bra). As you go north and the climate becomes warmer, the choice to grow other frangipani species becomes easier. In Northern Australia, especially near the coast where climates are warmer and winter nights are less harsh, numerous frangipani species can be found. There are several species of so-called Evergreen frangipanis, and generally speaking they require more tropical climates.
Evergreen Frangipanis
The expression “the evergreen frangipani” is a little confusing. Let me explain.
Many people in Queensland have heard of “the evergreen frangipani”. Almost all people, especially 20 years ago, who used the term “evergreen frangipani” were talking about the Plumeria obtusa (P. obtusa) with large white flowers with a yellow centre. We call this white obtusa, the “Singapore frangipani”. Even though other evergreen frangipanis existed, they were rare, so the Singapore was “the” quintessential evergreen frangipani.
Over the last decade or two, Efrangipanis started selling a few new species of frangipanis which also hold their leaves relatively well during winter. The petite pink, which is the other obtusa, became popular thanks to its dwarf bonsai-like shape. The Cuba is popular thanks to its low wide bushy shape. The white pudica became popular thanks to its bushy foliage and abundance of flowers. The pink pudica has the most potential to increase in popularity. It is fast growing, bushy, easy to prune and has beautifully scented flowers.
As these evergreen frangipanis grow in popularity, it’s become common for people to hear about one of them and assume it to be “the” evergreen frangipani. It seems we can longer assume which frangipani a person is talking about when they say, “the evergreen frangipani”.
The other confusing thing about “evergreen” is that “evergreen” means “it keeps its leaves during winter in tropical climates” and does not refer to areas outside the tropics. Having said that, even frangipanis outside of the tropical do keep healthy lush foliage longer into the winter when they are in positions that stay warm like a tropical climate. Read more about “evergreen frangipani species“.