Plumeria pudica is the frangipani that keeps its leaves. Where the common deciduous frangipani stands as bare grey sticks through winter, pudica holds glossy fiddle-shaped foliage year-round and flowers for months on end. That single difference makes it the more practical choice for most Australian gardens, particularly anywhere the tree is a feature you look at every day.
Quick facts
| Detail | What to expect in Australia |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Plumeria pudica, the evergreen frangipani |
| Mature size | 3-5 m tall, 2-3 m wide |
| Position | Full sun. At least six hours for good flowering |
| Soil | Free draining. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal |
| Water | Moderate in summer, very little in winter |
| Flowering | Spring through autumn, often longer in the tropics |
| Foliage | Evergreen in warm climates, may thin in a cold winter |
| Frost | Tender. Damaged below about 2°C |
| Best climates | Brisbane, northern NSW, tropical Queensland, Darwin, coastal Perth |
Evergreen or deciduous frangipani?
This is the choice most buyers are actually making, and it is worth being clear about.
| Evergreen (P. pudica) | Deciduous (P. rubra, P. obtusa) | |
|---|---|---|
| Winter appearance | Keeps glossy foliage | Bare branches |
| Flower | White with yellow throat | White, pink, red, yellow |
| Fragrance | Light | Strong, the classic frangipani scent |
| Flowering period | Long, spring to autumn | Summer, more concentrated |
| Habit | Slimmer, more upright | Broader, spreading |
If you want the famous frangipani perfume, plant a deciduous variety such as Plumeria rubra or Singapore white. If you want a tree that looks good all year in a courtyard or beside a pool, pudica is the better plant.
Where it grows in Australia
- Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts - excellent. Flowers for most of the year and holds foliage through winter.
- Northern NSW - grows and flowers reliably in a warm position.
- Tropical Queensland and Darwin - the longest flowering and fastest growth.
- Sydney - workable in a warm sheltered spot with full sun, though it may drop some leaves in a cold winter.
- Coastal Perth - suits it well, with free-draining sandy soil and mild winters.
- Melbourne, Adelaide and inland districts - too cold in the ground. Grow it in a pot that shelters over winter.
Frost is the limiting factor, not heat. Anywhere that regularly drops below about 2°C will damage the growth tips, and a hard frost can kill a young plant outright.
How to plant
- Plant in spring or early summer so it establishes in warm soil.
- Choose the sunniest position you have. Six hours minimum, and more means more flowers. Shade produces a leggy plant that barely blooms.
- Drainage matters more than soil quality. Frangipani rot in wet ground. On clay, plant on a raised mound.
- Shelter from strong wind. The branches are brittle and snap.
- Allow two to three metres of width at maturity.
- Water in well, then sparingly until you see new growth.
Growing it in a pot
Pudica does very well in containers, which is how to grow it in Melbourne, Adelaide or anywhere with frost. Use a pot at least 400 mm wide with free-draining mix, keep it in full sun through summer, and move it under cover for winter. Potted plants stay smaller, which suits a courtyard or balcony.
Ongoing care
Watering
Water moderately through spring and summer while the plant is actively growing and flowering. Cut back sharply through winter - frangipani store water in their stems and cold wet soil is what kills them. In a wet subtropical summer they usually need no supplementary water at all.
Feeding
Feed in early spring and again in midsummer with a fertiliser higher in potassium and phosphorus than nitrogen. High-nitrogen fertiliser produces lush leaves and very few flowers, which is the most common reason a healthy-looking frangipani refuses to bloom.
Pruning
Very little is needed. Prune in late winter or early spring before growth resumes, removing damaged or crossing branches and shortening any stem that spoils the shape. Cuts produce two or three new shoots, so pruning can be used to build a fuller canopy. Wear gloves - the milky sap irritates skin and is toxic if ingested.
Common problems and fixes
- No flowers on a healthy plant is almost always too much shade or too much nitrogen. Check both before anything else.
- Soft, blackening stems is stem rot from cold wet conditions. Cut back to firm white tissue and reduce watering.
- Orange powdery spots under the leaves is frangipani rust, common in humid summers. Remove affected leaves and improve airflow; it is disfiguring rather than fatal.
- Leaf drop in winter is normal in cooler districts even for the evergreen species. Foliage returns in spring.
- Blackened tips after a cold snap is frost damage. Wait until spring, then prune to live wood.
- Snapped branches follow wind or overloading. The timber is brittle - plant in shelter.
Using it in the garden
Pudica suits courtyards, pool surrounds and entry gardens where a plant is on display year-round. Its slimmer upright habit means it fits spaces a spreading deciduous frangipani would overwhelm, and because it holds its leaves it does not leave a bare gap through winter. It pairs naturally with other warm-climate plants - ixora, cordylines, palms and strelitzia - and works well underplanted with a low groundcover that hides the base.
Frequently asked questions
Does Plumeria pudica lose its leaves in winter?
Not in warm climates. In Brisbane, tropical Queensland and Darwin it stays fully evergreen. In Sydney or a cooler winter it may thin out or drop some foliage, and in frost-prone districts it behaves more like a deciduous frangipani.
Is the evergreen frangipani fragrant?
Only lightly. If perfume is what you want, choose a deciduous variety such as Plumeria rubra or Singapore white, which carry the classic frangipani scent. Pudica is grown for its long flowering and year-round foliage instead.
Why won't my frangipani flower?
Usually not enough sun, or too much nitrogen fertiliser. Frangipani need at least six hours of direct sun to bloom well, and lawn fertiliser drifting into the bed pushes leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Young plants also take a couple of seasons to settle before flowering properly.
Will it grow in Melbourne?
Not reliably in the ground. Frangipani are damaged below about 2°C and Melbourne winters are too cold. Grow it in a large pot in full sun through summer and move it to a sheltered position over winter.
How fast does Plumeria pudica grow?
Moderately, reaching three to five metres over several years in a warm climate. Growth is faster in tropical Queensland and slower in Sydney or Perth. It is a manageable size for most suburban gardens.
Is frangipani sap dangerous?
The milky sap irritates skin and eyes and is toxic if swallowed, so wear gloves when pruning and wash afterwards. It is worth knowing if children or pets are around, though the plant is otherwise unproblematic.
Ready to plant?
We grow evergreen and deciduous frangipani, from white-flowering pudica through to pink and Singapore white varieties. Browse our trees collection, or the tropical plants range for the wider warm-climate palette.
Choosing between varieties? See frangipani varieties, and designing a tropical garden for what to plant alongside them.
