Landscaper’s Infomation
"Frangipani only" Gardens
In SE Asia and USA one can now be thrilled by beautiful landscaped gardens utilising only frangipani plants.
Dwarfs to big trees
Plants range from low-spreading dwarf evergreen ground cover frangipanis to compact dwarf shrubs, upright Pinetree-shaped growing frangipanis, all the way to fully sized big growing trees.
Landscaper's Advice
Helping landscape designers and gardeners understand the wide range of frangipani plant types now available for all applications within a well-structured landscape and designed garden.
Advanced-sized frangipani, shrubs and trees
Discover the enchanting world of frangipani plant types at Scented Garden Frangipanis. Our wide range of frangipani plants enhances any well-structured landscape and designed garden. As Australia’s leading provider, we offer the world’s best frangipani hybrids and rare species in various sizes and shapes, revolutionizing landscape design possibilities. Immerse yourself in the beauty of frangipanis and explore our extensive collection today. Australia’s biggest range of the world’s best frangipani varieties awaits you.
Colourful
Deciduous
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Advanced-sized frangipani, shrubs, and trees.
ADVANCED 1.8 – 2M COLD HARDY RUST FREE EVERGREEN FRANGIPANI TREES IN PLASTIC TUBS NOW AVAILABLE.
FOR PRICELIST, AVAILABILITY, AND FREIGHT INFO PLEASE CONTACT US.
POA varies according to plant sizes and varieties. Advanced potted plants can be delivered anywhere in Australia except WA and Tasmania.
The Perfect Garden – using Frangipanis only…
is now possible with our extensive range of dwarf, semi-dwarf, compact, small, and large-growing evergreen & deciduous frangipanis.
Frangipani shrub and tree data
Due to modern breeding and the collection of a greater selection of Plumeria species, frangipani plants can now be classified as follows:
01
Deciduous Frangipanis
Deciduous frangipanis are the most well-known as most of the coloured frangipani flower trees are deciduous. Deciduous frangipani trees shed their leaves during winter allowing warm winter sun to shine through. In spring they start flowering, providing semi-shade and flowers, then throughout summer, they provide dense shade, flowers, and perfume.
Deciduous frangipani are ideal for planting in all areas where winter sun and summer shade are required.
02
Evergreen Frangipanis
Evergreen frangipanis offer year-round foliage in warm climate areas. Some evergreen types are very cold tolerant and will stay evergreen even in cool climates.
Most of the evergreen frangipanis have exceptionally beautiful foliage which is a fabulous ornamental feature even when not in flower.
03
Low-spreading dwarf frangipanis
Small shrub, 1 – 1.5 m high x 2 -3 m wide. Low-spreading dwarf frangipanis are rare, but 2 evergreen species, Plumeria stenophylla fm “nana” and Plumeria stenopetala are both exceptional low-growing ground cover prostate hedge plants with exceptional foliage and perfume.
04
Compact dwarf frangipanis
Small shrub 1 -1.5m x 1 -1.5m compact types, generally have naturally round shapes e.g. same height and width. Natural standards.
Exceptional landscaping feature plants requiring no pruning/shaping.
Available in evergreen and deciduous forms.
05
Compact semi-dwarfs
Medium-sized shrub 2m high x 2 -2.5 m wide. Semi-dwarfs grow bigger than dwarfs – up to 2 m high. Compact semi-dwarfs are exceptional landscaping plants. Available in deciduous and evergreen forms.
The deciduous types generally have the most outstanding WOW factor flowers.
06
Upright-growing semi-dwarfs
Tall, narrow shrub 2.5 -3m high x 1.5 -2m wide.A unique and valuable group of frangipanis that grow like pine trees being tall and narrow. Ideal for creating living screens, fences, etc.
All of the frangipanis in this group are evergreen.
07
Semi dwarf frangipanis
Small shrub 1 -1.5m x 1 -1.5m compact types, generally have naturally round shapes e.g. same height and width. Natural standards.
Exceptional landscaping feature plants requiring no pruning/shaping.
Available in evergreen and deciduous forms.
08
Full sized frangipanis
Large trees 4.5 – 6 m high x 7 -9 m wide.
Big trees for open spaces and urban gardens). The biggest-growing frangipani trees are usually the fastest-growing. Most of the deciduous frangipanis with coloured flowers belong to this group. Frangipani trees respond very well to pruning, therefore these types can still be planted in urban gardens, street scapes, and even large tubs. Pruning after flowering induces heavy branching and therefore results in a more dense crown, compact growth, and much heavier flowering the following season.
09
Variegated Frangipanis
There are now evergreen and deciduous frangipanis available which have beautifully variegated foliage.
Available varieties : Aussie Gold – variegated obtusa
(07) 4097 0065
The world’s best evergreen frangipani hybrids
Frangipanis have long been a favourite plant of gardeners in all regions of the world due to their exquisitely perfumed and colored flowers, form and drought and salt tolerance.
The main drawbacks preventing them from being one of the biggest major nursery plants worldwide are as follows: Mostly deciduous cultivars, cold climate intolerance, large tree size, prone to rust diseases.
Cold tolerant, rust resistant and fast growing evergreen frangipanis
Recent breakthroughs in selective breeding have overcome all of these drawbacks. Cold-tolerant, rust-resistant, fast-growing evergreen frangipanis in a range of plant sizes and flower colors are now available for the first time in horticultural history.
These new evergreen frangipani hybrids have been bred from a wide range of wild Plumeria species and therefore come in with many different leaf shapes and plant sizes ranging from dwarfs (1m ) semi dwarfs (1.5m -2m) intermediate small trees (2 .5 -3m) up to the typically large frangipani trees(4m -8m ).
These new evergreen cultivars are destined to become among the most popular ornamental plants in the world.
Singapore obtusa not cold tolerant
Until recently the most popular evergreen frangipani in the world has been the Singapore obtusa which is not at all cold tolerant, has white flowers, is prone to rust, and grows into a large tree.
However, there are now many dwarf and semi-dwarf Singapore obtus hybrids in an extensive range of flower colors. All are prone to rust.
None are evergreen, outside of the hot coastal tropics. In the subtropics, P.obtusa and its hybrids are all semi-deciduous during winter, although in sheltered hot, sunny positions, they may remain fully evergreen during winter, particularly the semi-dwarf hybrids which are more vigorous than the dwarf hybrids.
For an identical, but semi-dwarf Singapore obtusa which is extremely cold/frost-hardy and completely rust-free we highly recommend Plumeria bahamiensis.
Very few of the wild frangipani (Plumeria sp) species have been popularized in ornamental horticulture despite having many admirable qualities. These wild species have been rare in horticulture.
Rust immunity in frangipanis
We have observed three different degrees of rust immunity in the various rust-immune frangipanis: rust-resistant, highly rust-resistant, and rust-free.
Rust-resistant – means that these frangipanis are mostly rust-free and rust, while usually present in the rust season, is minor unless the plant becomes stressed such as in cold wet conditions.
Highly Rust resistant – means that the plants are always almost completely rust-free and not at all noticeable unless you closely look for it. A very high degree of rust immunity.
Rust-free – means that these plants are completely immune to rust spores and infection with no rust spores to be found on leaves even when searching closely for any signs of rust spores.
Breeding colors into wild evergreen Plumeria
Australian nurseryman, Steven Prowse, owner of the world-renowned frangipani nursery, Scented Garden Frangipanis, and a world-leading breeder of evergreen frangipanis, has collected the world’s best evergreen frangipani cultivars and rare wild Plumeria species for his breeding stock gene pool.
Breeding colors into the wild evergreen Plumeria species has been the most important work as all of the wild evergreen Plumeria species have white flowers.
Singapore obtusa and its hybrids
Singapore obtusa is the most common evergreen frangipani. It has beautiful dark green glossy foliage and big white flowers of exceptional perfume. As an evergreen it is only suited to tropical regions as it is not cold tolerant. It is prone to rust disease and sooty mould.
It grows into a very large tree. There are a few rare coloured flower types of Singapore obtusa eg: Mele Pa Bowman (Yellow flowers) Singapore obtusa pink (pink flowers) and a red flowered form which is extremely rare. These three cultivars grow into large trees similar to the typical Singapore obtusa.
There are also several dwarf and semi dwarf Singapore obtusa hybrids in a range of flower colors which are ideal for pots, small spaces, rockeries etc. These cultivars are very beautiful.
Like Singapore obtusa, they are not evergreen during winter in cool climates and are prone to rust disease.
Frangipani Hybrids & Evergreens Overview
Plumeria obtusa hybrids:
- Mele Pa Bowman
- Singapore Pink obtusa
- Orange star obtusa
- Red obtusa
- Richard Criley Rainbow
- Dwarf evergreen pink (Petite pink)
- VJ1
- Dwarf Siam Yellow
- Dwarf Gem
- Dwarf Daisy
- Dwarf orange star
Plumeria caracasana hybrids:
- Angel of Love
- Annie Prowse
- Sweet Bouquet
- Pink San Germain San Germain
- Yellowish caracasana
The Plumeria caracasana hybrids are the best-coloured evergreen frangipani cultivars in the world today.
New Puditusa hybrids:
- Puditusa – Hot Pink
- Puditusa – Sacred Love
- Puditusa – Lemon Gold
A very recent and important breeding breakthrough has been the crossing of Plumeria pudica and Plumeria obtusa. These new frangipani types have been developed by Steven Prowse of Scented Garden Frangi panis. He has named them “Puditusa”. There are now several Puditusa cultivars.
Best coloured evergreens:
- Dwarf evergreen fruitsalad (tri colored P.obtusa x P. tuberculata)
- Kieran Prowse (yellow flowered P.tuberculata)
- Pink pudica (petite pink x P.pudica)
There are now rare coloured flower forms of evergreen Plumeria pudica and Plumeria tuberculata which are rust-resistant, cold tolerant, dwarf, and semi-dwarf frangipanis with exceptional perfume and foliage.
* Please refer to the Evergreen section of our website for photos and descriptions
Cold-tolerant evergreens:
- Plumeria bahamiensis
- Plumeria pudica
- Plumeria tuberculata
- Annie Prowse
- Puditusa – Hot Pink
Not all evergreen frangipani varieties stay evergreen during winter in the subtropics or cooler regions. The Singapore obtusa & the Dwarf obtusa hybrids and San Germain will drop their foliage in subtropical winters. After 4 years of growing evergreens outdoors in unprotected regularly frost-prone areas, we have observed that these frangipani are highly cold tolerant/frost resistant still keeping their foliage during frequent zero-degree temperatures:
Penang Peach hybrids:
- Elsie
- Gina
- J23
- J105
- Musk Rainbow
- Palamino
- Phet pachaporn
- Star ruby
- Whirlpool
Most of the Penang Peach hybrids’ flowers are very distinctive in shape with very rounded petals, very little space in between the petals, and an unusually large/wide and deep throat. They are perfect, the epitome of very well-bred frangipanis. Please refer to the Compact Semi dwarf frangipani page for pics and further information.
Semi-dwarf semi-compacts:
- Salsa
- Lutea aurea
- Brittney
- Richard Criley Rainbow
- Dwarf evergreen pink
Please refer to dwarf section and evergreen section of our website for more info.
Rust-free evergreens:
- Plumeria bahamiensis
- SG Annie Prowse
- Puditusa cv. Hot Pink
Please Note – For cooler climates where completely rust-free, and truly evergreen frangipanis are essential, these three frangipanis are very cold hardy, and completely rust-free.
Guide to Plumeria caracasana
Plumeria caracasana and its hybrids
The Species Plumeria caracasana is a beautiful evergreen frangipani with ideal qualities for the landscaping and streetscaping industry in tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean climates worldwide.
This species is very cold tolerant, with long, graceful, and unusual spoon-shaped disease-free evergreen foliage and completely rust disease-free/resistant.
Plumeria caracasana is a medium-sized tree with more of an upright and less of a wide spreading shape than other frangipanis. This species has a natural tendency for a long straight trunk with no lower branches – the ideal shape and size for streetscapes and commercial landscapes.
Cold-tolerant and disease-resistant
It is a very fast-growing tree. The bark is clean and smooth. It is far more cold tolerant and disease resistant than Singapore obtusa, staying evergreen in cooler areas where Singapore obtusa will not.
The pretty medium to large-sized star-shaped flowers are held in massive bunches with weak to no perfume.
The world’s best hybrid evergreen frangipanis
The Hybrids: Because of these ideal qualities P.caracasana has been used in very recent times to breed what are now undoubtedly the world’s best evergreen frangipanis.
These new hybrids have all the best qualities of Plumeria caracasana, for example rust resistance, cold tolerance, longer flowering season, fast-growing, ideal shape and size, and long graceful evergreen foliage.
Huge flowers and strong perfume
They are far superior to the species due to their huge flowers, and much stronger perfume which now comes in a range of colors.
This is the most important breakthrough ever in evergreen frangipani breeding for the Landscape and Nursery industries.
Guide to Compact Frangipanis
Compact semi-dwarf frangipanis with huge flowers in big bunches growing into natural standards 2m x 2m are now the world’s most exciting new frangipani hybrids. Most are Penang Peach hybrids and are now available from Scented Garden Frangipanis.
Penang Peach
The Plumeria rubra cultivar “Penang Peach” is an old, but relatively rare frangipani in Australia.
cv. Penang Peach is notable for its very compact growth habit and large flowers. This cultivar never exceeds a fully grown height of 2m tall x 3m wide. The leaves are broad and have a distinctive almost rounded shape.
Clever frangipani breeders recognised Penang Peach’s great breeding potential because so often the taller growing frangipani trees can really only be fully appreciated from a distance, ladder or rooftop once they obtain mature size because the flowers end up being well above the eye-height of humans.
Great Frangipanis for small backyards
These days backyards are much smaller and room for big trees is generally less available. While all frangipanis can be grown in pots most will require regular pruning.
cv. Penang Peach with their low compact growth means that the abundant flowers can be enjoyed at eye and nose level and grown to maturity without the need to keep cutting back.
With this in mind, a few highly regarded frangipani breeders have been working with cv Penang Peach to produce an exquisite range of new compact hybrids generally referred to as the Compact frangipanis or Compact types.
Stunning compact Frangipanis
While there are a few very notable new compact types such as cv. Brittney, which are not Penang Peach hybrids, most of the new compact types are bred from Penang Peach and they are stunning!
The most notable breeder who has produced most of today’s world-class compacts is Jack Ingwersen. He is an American breeder living and breeding in northern Thailand. All of his best “compacts” are Penang Peach hybrids.
A rising star in everyone’s backyard
The “compact frangipanis” will become the most popular of the deciduous frangipanis, and I envisage them being extremely popular amongst all gardeners and landscapers in the near future, not just frangipani lovers.
Our world-class “compacts” – Elsie, Gina, J23, J105, Musk Rainbow, Palamino, Phet pachaporn, Star ruby & Whirlpool – all of which are Penang Peach hybrids with large to huge flowers or flower heads.
– Steven Prowse
Scented Garden Frangipanis
Frangipanis in Landscaping
Frangipani trees are semi-softwood plants with soft, relatively small root systems that are generally not problematic to concrete, paving, pools, ponds, drains, or large pots.
