Wherever Plumeria rubra may be found in the world, I'm sure you wouldn't mind inhabiting the same climate. P. rubra are native to Mexico and Central America but they have spread all over the world to tropical climates (shown in light green in the map below) like Australia, Hawaii, the Caribbean, South America, and Mexico. The closer to the equator the better for these plants.

Dark green: Equatorial        Light green : Tropical        Cyan: Monsoon        Red: Mediterranean        White: polar


P. rubra has high drought and salt tolerance, and moderate wind resistance. Plants will grow quickly in well-drained soils, and in part shade/ part sun or in full sun. The apple guava is a plant that grows in very similar conditions to the P. rubra, and you may be familiar with this fruit that is often found in jams and jellies.

Overall, the P. rubra is a wonderful plant to implement into a garden in a place with a tropical climate because they are relatively low maintenance and have a high resistance to pest attacks as well. Since the flower does not bode well in the winter with cold temperatures, deciduousness is an adaptation that P. rubra possesses. Flowers appear from December to April in the southern hemisphere such as Australia, and bloom from June to November in the northern hemisphere. They have a long blooming period which is not common in many plants. This is just another feature that makes this plant so unique and noticeable!

Next, check out how the Frangipani gets its Nutrition.



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