James Burghardt
Family
Apocynaceae
Botanical Name
PLUMERIA pudica
Plant Common Name
Bridal Bouquet, White Frangipani
General Description
Bridal bouquet is a semi-evergreen small tree native to Columbia, Venezuela and Curaçao. The branches and stems are thin for a Plumeria, weak and tend to break in high winds. The multiple stems form close to the ground and have an upright shape. The bark is tender and when cut or broken exudes, sticky, white sap which is an irritant.
Leaves are large, fiddle or spoon-shaped, almost sessile – without a stalk and hold on the trunk for a full plant. The large flowers sometimes appear before the leaves, summer through autumn and are held in branched clusters at the stem tips. Individual flowers are funnel-shaped ending in large, petal-like lobes which overlap to the left. The tubular part of the flower is long and attached to a thick flower stalk. Bridal bouquet flowers are waxy and unlike other frangipani are not typically fragrant. The color is white with a yellow or light green throat. The fruit is a two-part follicle with winged seeds inside.
Grow bridal bouquet in frost-free locations outdoors or in containers or greenhouses in colder locations. It grows best in well-drained, rich soil and regular watering except when dormant, usually in the winter. Full sun or high, shifting shade is best for growth and flowering. Give it several hours of very bright light a day for flowering. Use bridal bouquet as an accent tree, a patio container tree and the blooms to make famous Polynesian leis. Often considered the only evergreen frangipani, bridal bouquet will lose foliage in winter if temperatures are chilly; it is fully evergreen only in warm winter tropical areas if soils are not too dry.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 15
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Plant Type
Tree
-
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
-
Height
10'-15' / 3.0m - 4.6m
-
Width
5'-10' / 1.5m - 3.0m
-
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
-
Native To
Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Growing Conditions
-
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Drainage
Well Drained
-
Soil type
Loam, Sand
-
Tolerances
Pollution, Salt
-
Growth Rate
Medium
-
Water Requirements
Average Water
-
Habit
Upright/Erect
-
Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Special Characteristics
-
Bark Texture
Smooth
-
Usage
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
-
Sharp or Has Thorns
No
-
Invasive
No
-
Self-Sowing
No
