Pointed Leaf Frangipani

Pointed Leaf Frangipani (Plumeria rubra, acutifolia group) is the frangipani of Australian summer memory: white petals around a golden throat, thick sculptural branches and a perfume that hangs in the evening air. It builds a broad canopy to about 4.5m tall and 3m wide, and we sell it as advanced 45L and 200L trees, so you are planting presence rather than waiting a decade for it.

Why you'll love it

• The classic perfumed flower. White and yellow blooms open in clusters through summer and into autumn, strongest in scent on warm evenings.
• A sculpture even out of season. The thick, candelabra branching holds its own in winter, which matters for a tree this visible.
• Drought tough once settled. Established trees store water in their stems and cruise through dry summers with little help.
• Comfortable on the coast. Salt tolerant and heat tolerant, it suits beachside gardens that cook lesser trees.
• Sized for real gardens. At about 4.5m it shades a seating area without threatening the house.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Give it a spot you look at every day: beside a deck, outside a kitchen window, or anchoring a front garden.

Poolside. The bold foliage and flowers earn the position, and the roots are unlikely to trouble paving nearby. Expect to scoop spent blooms from the water in summer.

Pots, courtyards and small gardens. It grows happily long term in a large container, which also lets cooler climate gardeners move it under shelter for winter.

Growing Pointed Leaf Frangipani in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, the more the better. It thrives in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender: in cooler zones it drops its leaves over winter, and real frost burns branch tips, so southern gardeners should use a warm north facing wall or a pot moved under cover.

Soil. Sharp drainage is everything. Sandy soils are ideal; on clay, plant into a raised mound. Cold wet soil over winter is the main killer.

Water and feed. Water deeply but infrequently through the first summer, then let dry spells do no harm. Keep it close to dry through winter dormancy. Feed with a complete fertiliser in spring and mid summer.

Pruning. Rarely needed beyond removing a misplaced branch after flowering. The milky sap is an irritant, so wear gloves and keep prunings away from children and pets.

What to expect when it arrives

This is advanced stock only: 45L trees with established trunks and branching, and 200L specimens that land as finished features. A few yellowed or dropped leaves after transit is normal, not a fault. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost.

Plant into a warm month, water in well, then be patient: frangipanis focus on roots first and often sit quietly for several weeks before pushing new growth. Orders are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing between frangipani varieties
• Evergreen Frangipani, for foliage that holds all year
• More plants for poolside gardens

Common questions

Is it normal for it to lose all its leaves in winter?

Yes, in all but the warmest tropical gardens this frangipani is deciduous. Bare branches through winter are healthy dormancy, and leaves return with the warm weather.

Will it survive frost?

It is frost tender. An occasional whisper of frost may only mark the leaves, but real frosts kill branch tips and can kill young trees, so cold district gardeners should grow it in a pot and shelter it over winter.

Is it safe around pets?

No, treat it with respect. The milky sap is an irritant and the plant is toxic if chewed, so site it where dogs that chew branches and dropped material cannot make a habit of it.

Can I grow it in a pot long term?

Yes. Use a wide, heavy container with fast draining mix, water sparingly, and it will flower for years at a smaller size than it would reach in the ground.