Plumeria sp. 'Elsee' ('Elsee' Plumeria)

Plumeria is a genus of tropical and subtropical shrubs and small trees in the Apocynaceae family, native to the Americas from Mexico and the Caribbean through Central America to northern South America. Named in honor of the 17th-century French botanist Charles Plumier, Plumerias are famous for their showy, strongly fragrant flowers, which occur in shades of white, yellow, pink, red, and numerous multicolored combinations. Plants have thick, fleshy branches and large leaves and may reach about 30 feet (9 m), although many cultivated forms remain considerably smaller. Most Plumerias grown in gardens are cultivars and hybrids selected for flower color, size, fragrance, and growth habit.

Flower clusters are produced at the ends of branches and may bloom for many months in warm climates. Many species and cultivars become partly or completely deciduous during the cooler or drier season. Plumerias grow best in full sun and sharply drained soil and are remarkably drought tolerant once established, while prolonged waterlogging can quickly damage the roots. Their broken stems and leaves exude a milky latex that can irritate skin and should not be ingested. Fruits, when produced, consist of paired elongated follicles containing winged seeds, although many cultivated plants set fruit only occasionally. Hardy in USDA Zones 10-12, Plumerias can also be grown in warm parts of Zone 9b in sheltered locations with protection from frost and freezing temperatures. They are excellent landscape and container plants and can be kept relatively compact through pruning.

Plumeria 'Elsee' displays striking petals with a deep pink to crimson gradient that softens into white toward the edges.