Plumeria obtusa (Singapore Plumeria)

Singapore plumeria (obtusa) - evergreen shrub or small tree, up to 15 feet tall (4.5 m), or more; dark, shiny, leathery, blunt ended leaves, 6 to 10 inches long (15-25 cm), needs protection below 40° F (4° C). It has has scented, creamy white flowers with a yellow center, 1.6 to 2 inches in diameter (4-5 cm). This small tree grows to 8m high and is best suited to a tropical climate where, unlike most frangipanis, it is reliably evergreen. It can be grown in frost-free, subtropical climates, but requires a sheltered position and a fairly constant water supply. The broad, blunt-ended leaves are 15cm or more long. The scented, creamy white flowers have a bright yellow center. with its elegant, rounded flowers and soft perfume, 'Singapore White' is one of the loveliest of all plumerias. Plumeria commemorates Charles Plumier, a seventeenth-century French botanist who described several tropical species. The genus contains 8 species of mainly deciduous shrubs and trees, originally from Central America, known for their strongly fragrant flowers. The tree can reach a height of 9m, though they are generally much smaller. Their fleshy branches contain a poisonous, milk sap. In the tropics, the terminally held flowers (generally white) appear before the leaves and continue to flower for most of the year. In subtropical climates the flowers appear in spring, after the leaves, and continue growing until the next winter. The fruit consist of 2 leathery follicles, although the trees rarely fruit in cultivation. Most plumerias in gardens are hybrids. Plumerias are very salt tolerant. See Thai Plumeria - varieties Gallery.