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Plumeria rubra

Family Name:	Apocynaceae
Synonyms:	Plumeria acuminata
Common Name:	Frangipani, Common Frangipani, Kemboja, Bunga Kubur, Red Frangipani, Nosegay Frangipani, Chempaka, Pagoda Tree, Camboja

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Coastal Plant

Suitable for Roadsides

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Drought Tolerant

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m), Shrubby (1m-5m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Vase, Open
Maximum Height	8 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	8 m to 10 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Tropical Americas (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Small tree, up to 8m height. Leaves thick and leathery. Free-flowering. Flowers showy, fragrant, attract pollinators (Spinx Moths) but without nectar reward. Flower colour varies with cultivar.Cut surfaces of plant produce poisonous milky sap. Propagate by seeds, or hardwood cuttings (allow cut end to dry for several days before inserting into media).Ideal tree for small gardens and roof gardens. Genus named after French botanist Charles Plumier, who explored New World tropics.

Others - Plant Morphology

Small tree, up to 8m height. Leaves thick and leathery. Free-flowering. Flowers showy, fragrant, attract pollinators (Spinx Moths) but without nectar reward. Flower colour varies with cultivar.Cut surfaces of plant produce poisonous milky sap. Propagate by seeds, or hardwood cuttings (allow cut end to dry for several days before inserting into media).Ideal tree for small gardens and roof gardens. Genus named after French botanist Charles Plumier, who explored New World tropics.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Fragrant (Flowers) (Time Independent, Day), Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	General, Suitable for Roadsides, Skyrise / Balcony, Container Planting, Coastal
Thematic Landscaping	Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden, Naturalistic Garden

SGMP Treatment
Usage Hazard - Cons	Irritant - Sap
Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks	Poisonous milky sap on cut surfaces of plant

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) (Flowers attracts and are pollinated by Spinx Moths, but do not produce nectar reward., Insects (Butterfly, Moth))
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Drought Tolerant
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Pruning	Requires pruning for strong structure and remove drooping branches as tree gets older.
Diseases	Common pests include scales, caterpillars, nematodes. Root rot can infect plants planted in poorly-drained soils.
Pest(s)	Associated with, Nematodes, Sucking Insects
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting
Propagule Establishment Remarks	Hardwood cuttings need to be dried for several days before potting in well-drained media. Leafy tip cuttings should be potted immediately.
Propagation Method Remarks	Hardwood stem cuttings, leafy tip cuttings
Planting Distance	8 m to 10 m

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Deciduous
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Leathery, Thick

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Orange
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate, Oval, Elliptical)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Typical Foliar Area	Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	2.5 (Tree - Open Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Pink, Purple, Red, White, Yellow / Golden
Flower Symmetry	Radial

Flowering Period	Free-Flowering
Flowering Opening Time	Time-Independent
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Black, Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1781
Species ID	3074
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.