Classic Plumeria Scent?

[Kim]

This time of year we see many pots of plump plumeria twigs at the nurseries, fueling the desire for some heavy frangrance in the garden from those beautiful tropical flowers. Few are actually in bloom, so one must know in advance the names that produce the classic plumeria scent. Of those few blooming, most were only slightly fragrant. A more aggressive scent is desired. Suggestions? Any flower color is fine.

[paulgila]

if its scent yer looking for plant a champaca tree,kim

[BigFrond]

Michelia Alb - white flowers and better smelling and more expensive than Champaca

Michelia Champaca - yellow flower and leaves are not as green as alba

ylang ylang - ver nice smelling too.

Brugmansia - yellow flower has the best smell or most potent. Flowers all year. I just hate all the old dead flowers, plus you have to train it to look good.

[Really full garden]

Kim, I have about twenty plumerias and my all time favorite is Singapore.I think it is actually Plumeria obtusifolia. The scent is gardenia-magnolia.It is evergreen and has thick rounded leaves.Flowers are white with a small yellow center.I have a few planted on the beach side of my property so the breeze is perfumed with its scent as is wafts through my house.I think all of the Morgane cultivars are fragrant.

[Daryl]

The 'common white' in Oz is the best plumeria for that classic fragrance. This is not what some people call 'Celadine'. Aside from that it is especially hard to go past a Singapore White (Plumeria obtusa) or Mele Pa Bowman, the hybrid yellow Singapore.

As for other fragrances, Frangifest has a nice passionfruit fragrance, and Cooktown Sunset has a great fruity fragrance.

There are as many plumeria fragrances as there are colours.

Daryl

[Jeff in St Pete]

Hi Kim, I tried quite a few different Plumerias when I lived in Tampa. My favorite was called "Aloha". It had pink flowers with yellow centers and had a very strong but extremely pleasant plumeria scent. When it was in bloom, I could smell them as soon as I walked out the front door. It always put a big smile on my face! Unfortunately one winter we had a lot of rain and then cold weather and it rotted. I've always wanted to get another one.

[ariscott]

Singapore white fragrance is definitely better than the rest.

Regards, Ari

[Peter]

Kim, this is the one that blooms best for me by a long shot, and also has the best scent. Not sure what variety it is, but I think it's one of the more common ones.

[Kim]

pohonkelapa and Big Frond -- Unfortunately, no room for a tree no matter how sweet.

Thanks Scott, Daryl, Ari, Jeff, and Peter for your suggestions. Interesting that several mention 'Singapore White'. The other descriptions also sound very appealing; I'm starting to get the idea that plumeria are like potato chips, you can't have just one!

[Justin]

Plumeria "Aztec Gold" has a very strong, sweet, scent.

There is a small Michelia that is not a tree, too. Michelia figo, or banana shrub, has a nice scent that does smell a bit like bananas.

[paulgila]

ahhh,once again i was of no help whatsoever.

a perfect record.

[MattyB]

I think yours is Michielia alba though, isn't it Paul? You just call it Champaca because you're not smart. So in a way you did help. sort of ok you didn't I was just trying to make you feel better and insult you at the same time. How'd I do? don't answer that. Where's the whip emoticon?

[realarch]

Hi Kim, the most fragrant one in my garden is the white with a yellow center. Don't know the name, but it's a pretty common one.

Very hardy, hard to kill. I know I've tried and it wouldn't die. Here's a pic.

Tim

[ellidro]

Hi Kim, the most fragrant one in my garden is the white with a yellow center. Don't know the name, but it's a pretty common one.

Very hardy, hard to kill. I know I've tried and it wouldn't die. Here's a pic.

Tim

Looks like Plumeria Obtusa. It holds its leaves longer than other plumerias and smells great!

[joe_OC]

Plumeria Obtusa (Singapore Plumeria) can be difficult to keep in Southern California...I belong to the South Coast Plumeria Society and most of our members have given up on keeping it because they just die for unknown reasons. One of the most fragrant plumerias would be Vera Cruz. It smells like a rose. I personally like "Aztec Gold" - it smells like ripe peaches. There is a white plumeria called "Gardenia" because it smells like a gardenia.

BTW, plumerias are TREEs. If left to grow, they will be over 20 feet tall and just as wide. But, you can easily trim them back to keep them in a pot.

[Daryl]

Here is a big tree in Brisbane...Plumeria rubra cultivar. The flowers on this tree are 5" across...count them!

Daryl

[ariscott]

Wow... that must be pretty old. I would love to see mine that big one day...

Regards, Ari

[SubTropicRay]

Kim,

The Aztec Gold previously mentioned is very fragrant. Of the four or so varieties I grow, it is the best.

Ray

[Kim]

Plumeria Obtusa (Singapore Plumeria) can be difficult to keep in Southern California...I belong to the South Coast Plumeria Society and most of our members have given up on keeping it because they just die for unknown reasons. One of the most fragrant plumerias would be Vera Cruz. It smells like a rose. I personally like "Aztec Gold" - it smells like ripe peaches. There is a white plumeria called "Gardenia" because it smells like a gardenia.

BTW, plumerias are TREEs. If left to grow, they will be over 20 feet tall and just as wide. But, you can easily trim them back to keep them in a pot.

Good information, Joe, thanks. Since I have never attempted plumeria before, I should start with one that is 'easy' to grow. Where can I find these named varieties?

I realize plumeria are trees, but it's extremely rare to see one greater than shrub size around here. Aren't they slow growers? If they grow quckly to the size shown in Daryl's photo, perhaps I should rethink this... ...or tear down part of my house, what do you think?

[realarch]

Kim, I would be glad to give you cuttings if you want them. I posted some pics in a similar topic on page 2 of this forum. Just let me know.

Tim

[joe_OC]

Hi Kim,

If you keep them in a pot, you can control their growth. The reason why you don't see many mature plumerias is because people trim them down to a manageable size so they can enjoy the flowers (see them at eye level). The cuttings as Tim has mentioned are easy to root (for the most part). I would recommend "Aztec Gold". It's an easy grow here in So Cali. One thing that is interesting about that particular plumeria is that it tends to "weep". The branches grow down towards the ground.

Sounds like Tim is willing to give you some cuttings. I would do that. Let the cut callous up (4 days in summer) and dip it in a root hormone. I like "Clonex" rooting gel. They like a fast draining soil, so you can probably use the same soil mixture for palms. They do not need a lot of watering though. I generally let the soil dry out before I water my potted plummies. If you plant them in the ground, make sure they are in a well draining area or raise the planting bed. They like lots of sun and heat.

PS... Plumerias are VERY addictive. Soon, you will want all the color varieties. There are new hybrids coming out each year. I know a gentleman who has an amazing palm garden that is close to 30 years old. Since he got into plumerias, he has removed all his Royals and removed a perfectly healthy C. Macrocarpa... Why you ask? Because they were blocking up too much of the sun for his beloved plumerias.

HTH's,

Joe

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

Here are a few pictures of my friends Plumeria that I took two weekends ago. They all smelled great!

[Matthew92]

On 7/15/2008, 11:38:00, Justin said:

There is a small Michelia that is not a tree, too. Michelia figo, or banana shrub, has a nice scent that does smell a bit like bananas.

^^That's a really nice one. Just discovered it a couple summers ago at a nursery. Was in a pot and blooming profusely. We were walking around and could smell it from quite a distance: it was a banana-ish/tropical smell that immediately made me feel like I was in the real tropics. One of the few Michelias that is cold hardy: it will tolerate at least through zone 8.

[Aquamarine]

As far as strong scents go, with what I term the 'waftability factor'  I would go with the Singapore, Celadine, and I also recommend Inca Gold.  I have an Inca Gold and I love it. Unfortunately it doesn't bloom every year for me and it doesn't have many branches, so when it does bloom, there is only one cluster of flowers.  However that one cluster is wonderful. its fragrance is very similar to SIngapore and Celadine, what I think of as the 'classic frangipani' scent, and totally smells like Hawaii/the tropics.  And I like that it's a solid, pure, bright yellow. 

I also have a Miami Rose, while I love the color and basic scent; coconut,  but I never thought it had any 'waftability'.  However, two months ago I was walking in my neighborhood and I walked past a large, mature Miami Rose in full bloom and I noticed quite obviously that the air was scented with a subtle, but there, coconutty scent.  It  was wonderful, I wanted to just stand there and enjoy it.  However I went back a couple of weeks ago and...no scent!

 

[Manalto]

On 7/15/2008 at 12:25 AM, Jeff in St Pete said:

Hi Kim, I tried quite a few different Plumerias when I lived in Tampa. My favorite was called "Aloha". It had pink flowers with yellow centers and had a very strong but extremely pleasant plumeria scent. 

+1

[Aquamarine]

Definitely Singapore white and Celadine.  Mele Pa Bowman; I haven't experienced this one, but since it is a hybrid of the previously mentioned two, I imagine it would probably smell the same. 

But I really recommend Inca Gold.  It has that classic frangipani smell, has great 'waftability', and is a (mostly) solid yellow. 

[Hillizard]

Kim: I've tested over half a dozen common varieties of Plumeria here in interior NorCal; hands-down 'Aztec Gold' is the most dependable in terms of growth rate and yearly blooming. I put it under a roof overhang in the winter, but otherwise it stays outside in a pot. This picture is from last summer.  I liken the scent to a cross between mango and peach.