Mexican Plumeria

Plumeria rubra belongs to the dogbane family and grows as a spreading shrub or small tree to a height of 2–8 m (5–25 ft) and similar width. It has a thick succulent trunk and sausage-like blunt branches covered with a thin grey bark. The branches are somewhat brittle and when broken, ooze a white latex that can be irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. This latex found in the stem of the plants is in fact toxic, but not deadly unless present in large quantities. The large green leaves can reach 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in) long and are arranged alternately and clustered at the end of the branches. The boles of these plants can be up to 25 cm in the wild. It tends to be smaller in cultivation. They are deciduous, falling in the cooler months of the year. The flowers are terminal, appearing at the ends of branches over the summer. Often profuse and very prominent, they are strongly fragrant, and have five petals. The flowers give off their fragrance in the morning and in the evening,. The sweet fragrance functions as an attractant of hawkmoths, the primary pollinators of the species. This fragrance is similar to that of rose, citrus, and cinnamon. The colors range from the common pink to white with shades of yellow in the centre of the flower. …

Its native range extends from Baja California into central Mexico south through Central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Honduras, Panama) to the Department of Antioquia in Colombia and Venezuela in South America. It is cultivated widely in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and has become naturalized in most parts of tropical Asia and the Pacific Islands. P. rubra was introduced in the 1560s into the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period. From there, it spread to the rest of Southeast Asia and into other parts of the Asia. It was also introduced into the Pacific Islands in the late 19th century, where it has since become iconic due to their use in leis. P. rubra generally inhabits hot and rocky areas with dry to moderate rainfall. They can survive in locations with prominent dry seasons, where they can flower on the bare branches, or in more humid conditions, where they can remain evergreen. It can also be found in rocky forests, mountain slopes, and even occasionally on plains or savannas. It occupies elevations from sea level to 1000 meters but can be found up to elevations of 1500 meters.

The Plumeria Rubra species is primarily pollinated by hawkmoths. The flowers produce a strong fragrance that becomes more prominent in the evening and nighttime, aligning with the period of greatest hawkmoth activity. Although the flowers attract pollinators through fragrance and appearance, they actually produce little to no nectar, a pollination strategy known as deceptive pollination. While searching for nectar, the hawkmoths insert their long proboscides into the flower's tubular corolla, where they come into contact with the reproductive structures of the flower and transfer pollen. Studies have reported several hawkmoths carrying Plumeria flower pollen, demonstrating their role as effective pollinators.

The USDA Forestry Service lists Plumeria rubra as a poisonous plant and warns against touching or eating any part of the plant. In Cambodia, as with other Plumeria species, P. rubra flowers is used for necklaces, as offerings to deities or as decoration for coffins. The leaves of this species are used in the care of sores and made into soothing infusions. The flowers and bark of it are also used in traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of fever, bacillary dysentery, pertussis and so on. Chinese herbal teas such as Wang Lao Ji also contain P. rubra. P. rubra possesses fulvoplumierin, an antibiotic that inhibits the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The plant has also been shown to be an antifungal, antiviral, analgesic, antispasmodic, and hypoglycemic. P. rubra is also reported to contain agoniadin, plumierid, plumeric acid, cerotinic acid, and lupeol, and the stem possesses an alkaloid called triterpinoid. The plant has been known to promote digestion and excretion, along with respiratory and immune functions. The sap of the plant is used as a laxative and is a remedy for bloating and stomachaches. The bark is said to be purgative and is also used for venereal sores. The flowers can be boiled in water or juice and made into a salad to promote bowel movement, urine flow, and to control gas and phlegm. …

The species is cultivated around the world in subtropical and tropical climates. In Australia, it is widely seen in cultivation in Sydney and Perth and warmer frost free climates northwards. In the mainland United States, it tolerates USDA Hardiness zones 10B to 11 (southern coastal California and the southern tip of Florida). It is also grown in Hawaii to an altitude of 2000 m. They tolerate a wide variety of soils, from acid to alkaline and sandy to clay. These plants grow best in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun and will bloom through most of the year in tropical areas. They do not grow well in wet soils and in areas with temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F) during the winter seasons, the plants will stop blooming and shed their leaves. Established plants are also very salt tolerant and tolerate even salt-laden winds. Widely available in nurseries, frangipanis are readily propagated by cuttings of branches taken in cooler months and left to dry for a week or more. As well as gardens and street- and park planting, frangipanis are planted in temples and cemeteries. Plumeria rubra is an important crop in Hawaii, with over 14 million flowers sold to be used in leis there in 2005. In temperate areas P. rubra must be grown under glass, in a large conservatory or similar, due to its requirement for warm conditions. …