Natural Frangipanis

When frangipanis grow naturally from seed, they do not flower and do not fork for a number of years. They often grow into a thick single stem plants and are often over one metre tall before forking. As the weight and number of branches increase, the stem continues to strengthen to support the weight of the tree. Eventually, the tree will develop into a balanced umbrella shape. 

Ideal Shape Of Cuttings

To get a well balanced umbrella shaped frangipani tree, cuttings should start as a single stem with a straight trunk, like a seedling.

Forked and Multi Stemmed Frangipanis

Frangipani plants with branches are more popular and, despite often being more expensive, usually sell faster. The more branches a frangipani plant has, the more flowers it will produce in the near future (1 to 3 years). Also, small plants with numerous branches resemble a traditional tree shape, and in some cases they can also have an appealing bonsai look.

Thin Trees and Single Stemmed Frangipanis

The frangipanis with less forks and less branches often look top light but since frangipani grow mostly from the branch ends, they eventually fill out and turn into a nicer shaped tree.

Straightness and Thickness of Trunk

As a frangipani increases in size, the trunk needs to support the weight of the whole tree. A large curve or S bend in the trunk will not have as much strength as a straight trunk. Many frangipanis have bends in their trunks and grow for many years without ever developing a lean or falling over however the greater the bend, the greater the risk. We often reduce the price of our frangipanis that have a curved, a thin or thin curved trunk to sell them more quickly.