Frangipanis and Not Much More

Frangipanis and...

Some plants develop a following or have societies created around them, where fellow collectors swap cuttings, ideas and seeds of that particular genus. 

JJ's Desert Sunrise photo Susan Newie

Frangipanis are tropical trees are loved by many collectors, and funnily enough, these collectors are going for the darker coloured flowers, like the dark reds, or almost black flowers.

• But it’s not only the colour of the flowers that drives collectors crazy, it’s the size of the flowers and how they lookEvery so often that present a show, usually annually or biannually to sell some of their plants to the public.

This is the time to pick up something rare and exciting that you will never find in a nursery, garden centre let alone a big box store, and it’s not to be missed.
Let’s find out more.
I'm talking with Anthony Grassi, President of the Frangipani Society of Australia.

Anthony, mentioned the Moragne hybrids.
Bill Moragne is the father of Plumeria breeding.

#27 

A professional horticulturist in Hawaii during the 1950’s he pioneered and perfected the cross breeding/hybridizing technique for frangipanis.
His best hybrids set the standard years ago and they still do today.

• Why Doesn't My frangipani flower?

Answer: 

• It may be too young. 

When you first buy your frangipani plant, whether just a cutting or in a pot, it will most likely flower in the first year. The second year, it will put all its energy into growing strong roots and lengthening branches.

While it's still young, the stems will need a minimum of 2 years before the wood is ready again to produce buds and flower. The same applies, if you prune it.

• After that, you may need to think about your fertilising regime.

Anthony recommends Sudden Impact for Roses, but following it up with a couple of applications of potash granules applied in spring and summer.

• The third factor is, sunlight. 

Is your frangipani growing in full all day sun?

If it's not getting enough sun,  a minimum of 6 hours, it will resolutely fail to flower.

Not all the colour variations have strong perfume, but quite a few have flowers that are 10cm across, and imagine that amplified with a bunch of flowers,.
You end up with a cluster of flowers the size of a basketball.
Now that’s something to see.



If you want to know more or if you have any questions about where to get these amazing cultivars, why not email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR P.O. Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

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