Plumeria alba, commonly called white frangipani or nosegay, is a small rounded deciduous tree of the dogbane family that grows in a vase-shape to 15-25′ tall. It features fragrant white flowers with yellow centers. Upright branches are thick but weak, and have a milky sap. This species is native to Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles, but has been introduced into a number of tropical areas around the world. Very fragrant 5-petaled flowers (to 3″ wide) bloom in terminal clusters at the branch tips from spring to fall. Flowers are white with yellow centers. Oblong-lanceolate green leaves (to 12″ long) are spirally clustered at the stem ends. Fruits are cylindrical pods (to 8″) that are rarely formed in cultivation.
Genus name honors Charles Plumier (1646-1704), French monk of the Franciscan order, botanist and traveller.
Specific epithet means white.
Common name of frangipani is from the name of a 16th century Italian nobleman who created a perfume with a similar scent.
Plumeria flowers (particularly those of Plumeria rubra) are used to make leis and a scented oil in a number of Pacific islands including Hawaii.
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