Glossary

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Account – Online shops keep customer details private. Customers can use a username (often the email address) and password to log into the website to see their own details and order history. We gather a delivery address and contact details with each online frangipani tree order so visitors need to be logged in to be able to submit orders. Visitors can easily create an account by completing a one page form.

Add To Cart – On our online shop, you can browse our available frangipani trees and when you see one you’re interested in, just click on “add to cart” or “buy now”. See shopping cart.

Advanced Frangipanis – See Mature Frangipanis

Backfill – Putting the local or better quality soil around the frangipani root ball to fill the hole.

Canopy – The highest branches which cover the rest of the frangipani.

Crop – To cut very short or prune heavily.

Cropped Frangipani – Cropping a frangipani is done by cutting all the small outside branches off leaving only the thick branches or leaving just a stump. The reason for cropping is usually to allow the frangipani to grow back more healthily and with a more condensed and more balance shaped. It’s also a good to crop an in ground frangipani tree if it blocks a view or takes up too much of the yard.

Crown – The very tip of each branch is a crown. Frangipani crowns are important because they produce new green wood which extends each branch. Crowns are also responsible for producing leaves flowers. When a crown is damaged, the branch will try to produce new shoots from the sides of the crown. “When counting how many crowns a frangipani plant has some people say “frangipani heads”.

Deciduous – Plants which drop all their leaves in the winter and produce new green foliage in the spring.

Die Back – When a frangipani branch gets damaged and rot sets in, the rot will travel down to the next fork leaving a dead branch. The rot will not spread past the fork if the other wood is strong and healthy. Cutting off rotting branches is recommended for appearance and to help the healing process.

Dormancy – A period of inactivity during the colder months. This inactivity is a method frangipanis use to protect themselves from the cold. Fertilizing a frangipani after summer to produce growth during the winter is likely to result in damage.

Drought Resistant Plant – A tree such as the frangipani which can survive on the moisture in the ground despite months of no rain.

Dwarf Frangipani – A frangipani which grows to half the height of other frangipani trees. A maximum of 2 to 4 metres as apposed to 4 to 8 metres.

Evergreen Frangipani – A frangipani species that usually holds some or all of its leaves throughout winter in tropical climates.
See obtusa, pudica and cubensis.

Established Frangipani – Frangipanis which have been in the ground for a year or more will have stronger roots. Strong roots are good for sending nutrients to the tree and for stopping tree from blowing over. Frangipanis which have been in pots or bags

Ex-Ground Frangipani Trees – Frangipanis which are sold while they are still in the ground. Frangipanis grow faster while in the ground so ex-ground stock is usually bigger and looks better. However, ex-ground frangipanis are usually more expensive due to the cost of extraction and delivery. Delivery is usually more complicated because the tree cannot stand up on its own and often needs to sit in a harness. The other downside to ex-ground frangipanis is that all the leaves and flowers need to be cut off before extraction. Because the roots extend in all directions, it’s necessary to break off the roots about 50 to 75 cms from the trunk. Breaking the roots, causes the frangipani tree to suffer stress.

Fragrance – A word used to describe the beautiful smell of frangipani flowers. Also Aroma, smell and scent.

Full Sun – An area which gets direct sunshine from sunrise to sunset throughout the year. Established frangipanis do well in full sun however frangipanis prefer heat more than sunlight. Smaller frangipanis can get sunburnt and do better 3-6 hours of sun each day.

Foliage – Leaves.

Fork – The spot where a branch becomes 2 or more branches. (See also natural fork and unnatural fork.)

Genus – A group of plants with similar characteristics. Plumeria (Frangipani) is a small genus of about 10 species.

Login – After you register with our website, you can login anytime using your username and password. While logged in, you can add your contact information and delivery address. Our online shop will save this information as well and save your order details and even save your shopping cart in case you get interrupted before submitting your order.

Mature Frangipanis – Most nurseries stock frangipanis in 200mm and 300mm pots which are around 1m tall or shorter. We call frangipanis taller than 1m trees or advanced frangipanis. These frangipanis are usually in 45 or 75 litre bags.

Mature Frangipani Trees – See Ex-ground Frangipanis

Natural Fork – Most frangipanis fork where a flower bud has been produced. Natural forks look clean and attractive compare to unnatural forks.

Obtusa – A frangipani species which includes Singapore white and Singapore petite pink. See also “evergreen”.

Online Shop – The section of our website where visitors can view images of our available frangipani trees and order online.

Plumeria – Frangipani. The genus (group) of plants with around 10 species.

Unnatural Fork – When a frangipani branch is broken or cut off or a crown has been damaged or killed, new branches will often shoot out from the side of the cut or damage. Unnatural forks look unattractive and take a long time to heal over.

Register – Simply choose a username, such as your first name or email address, and an easy to remember password to register with our website. (See account)

Rot – A process, caused by bacteria, where frangipani wood decays. The rot spreads turning the inside of frangipani wood to brown and eventually black liquid. Soft weak frangipani wood is most susceptible. See also root rot and die back.

Root Ball – Frangipanis grown in bags and pots allow roots to form a ball shape. A “solid root ball” is a root ball which holds its shape and holds the soil within after being taken out of its bag or pot. A solid root ball is important otherwise parts of the root ball will break away and be lost. Putting a solid root ball into the ground will help the frangipani establish itself more quickly. See also established frangipani and teasing the roots.

Root Rot – When frangipani roots have too much water, rot can occur in the roots. In bad cases, the rot will spread up the trunk causing the branches to go soft. Noticing soft branches is a sign of an unhealthy frangipani. By the times this is noticed, it’s usually, not always, too late.

Rubra – The most commonly found frangipani species in Australia. The Frangipani rubra is deciduous and has hundreds and possibly thousands of colour variations.

Shopping Cart – Just like shopping in a supermarket with a basket or trolley, you can put items in your cart while shopping online.

Singapore – A frangipani with a large strong scented flower. See evergreen and obtusa.

SEQ – South East Queensland – SEQ includes the Brisbane area, Gold Coast to the south and the Sunshine Coast to the north. We have a basic delivery fee for this area and often deliver ourselves.

Species – Within the frangipani genus, frangipani plants are categorized into about 10 species. We have 6 or 7 species, 4 of which are available for purchase.

Sub-tropics – The sub-tropics are the areas a little north of and south of the tropics. By one definition, a subtropical region has at least eight months with a mean temperature of 10 °C or above.

Sunburn – When frangipanis are moved from a shade house or shady area to hot direct sun, frangipani leaves can burn. Hot summer days can be too hot for small frangipani plants as well. Also, hot western sun can burn frangipani wood on small plants.

Tease The Roots – To pull the roots out of the base of the root ball. After the roots fill the bottom of the pot or bag, they start to go around and back into the root ball. Pulling these roots out of the root ball before planting allow them to go straight into the new soil and greatly helps the plant to establish itself and get growing.

Tip – A frangipani tip is the end of the branch where growth occurs. See crown. Also known as branch end or head.

Tropics – An area with a warm climate where the sun is directly overhead at least once a year.

Wet Feet – When frangipani roots get too much water for too long.

Windburn -Transporting frangipani plants without wind protection causes the leaves to turn brown like being burnt.