Thai Botanic
Plumeria rubra, frangipani, grown root-balled for export in Thailand

Plumeria rubra

Frangipani, temple tree · Apocynaceae · Deciduous small tree

Thick sculptural branches and heavily scented flowers in white, cream, pink and red. Small, slow and highly architectural — used as a garden object as much as a tree, and one of the few species here that reads well against a wall or in a container.

Specification

Mature height3–8 m
Crown spread3–6 m [to confirm]
Calliper range supplied10–25 cm, measured 1 m above soil level [to confirm]
Root-ball diameter50–100 cm [to confirm]
Growth rateSlow
HabitDeciduous in a dry or cool season
FloweringStrongly scented, white to deep pink; long season
Minimum order quantity[to confirm]

Landscape use

Courtyards, pool surrounds, entrances, temple and hotel grounds, and raised planters. Its scale and slow growth make it one of the few trees here that is safe close to buildings and hard landscape.

As with others in its family the sap is a milky latex, so gloves are usual when pruning. Specify it for scent, flower and sculptural form — it is a tree to stand beside rather than shelter under.

Site tolerance

DroughtHigh — succulent branches store water
SalinityModerate to high — used in coastal gardens
WindModerate — brittle branches
SoilSharp drainage essential. Rots in wet ground.
HeatVery high
USDA zone10–12

Export notes

Supplied root-balled and wrapped. Among the most forgiving species in transit — it tolerates a dry root ball far better than most. Phytosanitary certification accompanies every shipment. See export and compliance.


For available sizes and current stock in this species, get in touch.