nosegaytree

Plumeria alba L.

White frangipani combines heavy, blunt branches with delicate-looking fragrant flowers. Leaves gather near the branch tips, leaving much of the framework exposed. Mature cultivated trees can reach about 7.6 m and develop a rounded or vase-shaped crown. Injured tissues release white sap, which can irritate skin. Singapore NParks: Plumeria alba University of Florida IFAS, Gilman and Watson: Plumeria alba, ENH649/ST490 (2014)

Botanical name

Plumeria alba L. is accepted in Apocynaceae. This is the Caribbean species, not a collective name for every white-flowered garden plumeria. Kew Plants of the World Online: Plumeria alba

Recognizing the plant

The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, green and leathery. Flowers are white around a small yellow center and have a sweet scent. Their overlapping segments create a gently spiraling outline. Long, dry fruits contrast with the soft floral display. The branches are thick but relatively brittle, an important structural feature of the tree. Singapore NParks: Plumeria alba University of Florida IFAS, Gilman and Watson: Plumeria alba, ENH649/ST490 (2014)

Bloom window

Singapore and Florida cultivation

Singapore’s National Parks Board records flowers throughout the year in cultivation, while the University of Florida account gives June–November for Florida. Singapore NParks: Plumeria alba University of Florida IFAS, Gilman and Watson: Plumeria alba, ENH649/ST490 (2014)

Native range

The species is native to the Caribbean from Puerto Rico through the Leeward and Windward Islands. It is cultivated far beyond that range, including tropical Asian gardens. Kew records introduced populations in Assam, Bangladesh, Sumatra and Trinidad and Tobago. Kew Plants of the World Online: Plumeria alba Singapore NParks: Plumeria alba

Ecological relationships

University of Florida entomologists list Plumeria alba as a larval food plant of the tetrio sphinx, Pseudosphinx tetrio. University of Florida IFAS: Tetrio Sphinx, Pseudosphinx tetrio

Botanical sources

Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.