Local Canopy
Full image of White Frangipani

White Frangipani

Plumeria alba

Description

A small, deciduous tree celebrated for its intensely fragrant, waxy, white flowers with a small yellow center. It has long, leathery, club-shaped leaves and a branching, vase-like structure. It is a classic ornamental in tropical gardens.

Common Uses

Daily Life Uses

  • Widely cultivated for its ornamental value.
  • The fragrant flowers are famously used to make leis in Hawaii and are a source for perfumes.

Medical Uses

  • The milky latex is used in traditional remedies for its purgative and diuretic properties, but it can be a skin irritant.

Industrial Uses

  • The wood is soft and not typically used commercially.

General Uses

  • It is relatively drought-tolerant, making it suitable for xeriscaping.
  • The flowers are considered sacred in some cultures.
Fun Facts

Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night in order to attract their primary pollinators, sphinx moths. They trick the moths into pollinating them without providing any nectar in return.

Location
Lat: 18.22
Lon: -66.59