The Common Frangipani Variety
The most common species of frangipani in Australia is the Plumeria rubra (P. rubra). Frangipani rubras are deciduous and can be identified by the shape and texture of its leaf. Frangipani rubras are categorized into groups according to their main flower colour. Pink, red, orange, yellow and cream.
Rubra
We group our frangipani rubras into 5 (used to be 6) main groups according to the flower colour from a distance.
White frangipani flowers have a yellow centre. A small yellow centre is not noticeable from a distance, so the flower appears white. White rubra flowers have more yellow, about 50%, in the centre so they often look cream from a distance. Sometimes, they are called “cream” but most people call them “white”. Some rubra flowers start with more yellow, 80% to 100% and little or no white. These flowers look “yellow” from a distance. Interestingly, a “yellow” flower in the sun for a few days will fade and look like a “white” flower.
Frangipani flowers that are mostly pink and have only a little orange and yellow in the centre look “pink” from a distance. Many other flower varieties have a combination of red, orange, pink, yellow and white which look “orange” from a distance. When you look at them closely (within 1 metre), you can see why they also get called multicolour or tricolour. Frangipani flowers which look red from a distance sometimes have a small amount of orange in the centre. They usually have a smaller flower, and a milder scent.
With the possible exception of some darker flower varieties, frangipani rubra varieties are hardier and require little to no attention once established.
Rubra Sub Species
It seems many decades ago, someone categorized rubra frangipanis into four subcategories, but it seems those categories are no longer used. According to wikipedia “The epithets acuminata, acutifolia, and lutea are seen, but these are invalid.” “They are no longer widely recognized in modern botanical nomenclature.”
Obtusa
The second most commonly found frangipani species in Australia is the Plumeria obtusa (p. obtusa). Obtusas are considered evergreen because they keep some or most of their leaves all year round in tropical and sub-tropical areas. They can be distinguished from other frangipanis by their large, glossy leaves which have a leathery texture. There are two main varieties of obtusa, the more common white obtusa, which is commonly called the Singapore frangipani, and the the Petite Pink which has a small pale pink flower and is a dwarf variety. Both varieties have leathery glossy leaves but the pink variety has smaller leaves. The pink obtusa is a dwarf, grows wider and up to half the height of other frangipanis.
2025 – See our home page to learn how the term “evergreen frangipani” has evolved in the last 15 years.
Pudica
The frangipani pudica (P. pudica) is relatively new to Australia. We, Efrangipanis, got our first shipment around 2010, not knowing much about them, but they quickly became popular and now a permanent item on our list. The pudica leaf is a hammer-head shape, and its growing habits are quite different from the two species mentioned above. They can produce new branches from the trunk and along its branches and they become even bushier with pruning. The pudica is also known as “Everlasting Love” and the “Hammerhead frangipani”. It is evergreen, fast growing and a great flower producer. It looks great in February and when it is sold in a new pot with an Everlasting Love tag, it makes a great Valentine Present.
Stenophylla
The frangipani stenophylla (p. stenophylla) has long thin leaves. Its branches are quite thin too. Personally, I find our stenophylla branches get weighed down with dense heavy leaves, but the branches can also grow back up towards the sky after defoliation. I sometimes also insert a stake to keep the branches upright. I also often prune to shape future growth.
We have about 30 small stenophylla plants, all grown from seedling. They all seem to have stronger, more upright branches.
The stenophylla produces small white flowers. It has a mild jasmine like scent. It is also known as “White Magic”. I’d say it’s one of the challenging species to grow but as they say, “the greater the challenge, the greater the reward!”.
Cubensis
We planted one of our small Plumeria cubensis around 2013 and another around 2016. Both are growing well and now, in 2025, between 1.5 to 2 metres tall with 50 to 100 branches each. Thanks to an ABC garden program, where this species is featured, we get a wave of enquiries and sales every two or three years.
The cuban frangipani is as evergreen as any other frangipani and it’s a dwarf. The draw back is it had quite a small flower which is only very mildly scented. The cuba is also known as “Plumeria sericifolia”.
Caracasana
The carcasana frangipani has thin branches like the stenophylla. We only have a few in our hothouse, they are difficult to grow and grow slowly. We only make them available one at a time, not very often and they are likely to be only small plants.