Plumeria's five-petaled, pinwheel-shaped blooms carry one of the most recognizable tropical fragrances in the world — the scent behind the classic Hawaiian lei.
Native to Central America and the Caribbean but forever associated with Hawaii, plumeria (also called frangipani) grows as a small tree or shrub and is a favorite for gardens in warm, frost-free climates as well as patio containers further north.
Plumeria symbolizes new beginnings, positivity, and love, and it's traditionally worn behind the ear in Hawaii — position indicating relationship status, on the left for taken and the right for single.
Plumeria wants full sun and well-draining soil, and it's frost-tender, thriving outdoors year-round only in warm climates. Elsewhere, it's grown in a pot and brought indoors for winter, where it will drop its leaves and rest until spring.
Plumeria's fragrant flowers are widely used to make leis and floral perfumes, and while parts of the plant have a history in folk medicine, the milky sap can irritate skin and should be handled with care.
