Hawaiin Fragrance Plant?

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by shyfilly, Jun 2, 2004.

  1. shyfilly

    shyfilly Member

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    Location:
    illinois
    I recently got one of these plants that is about 3 ft high, spits or explodes seeds located on the rather rubbery stalk. Leaves are only at the top and the bottom of the stem where the dirt stops looks rotted and one would think it would break off but the other person who has one says his looks like this too. I wonder if I need to put it in another kind of soil or deeper pot? I tried to find this on the net but can't find so maybe the name is wrong or not the true name. Can someone steer me in the right direction as to the way I can put it outside in IL weather or should it be only inside, what is the true name so I can look it up, is it truly rotting or is that what it should look like. Other than the rubbery stem and bottom of stem looking rotted it seems to thrive indoors. Thank you,
     
  2. hungry hippo

    hungry hippo Active Member 10 Years

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    Hi shyfilly,
    Just a guess, but could your plant be a Plumeria? Two things that make me suspect that it could be. One is that they are frequently sold as somewhat rubbery stem sections pre-bagged at all the airport gift shops in Hawaii. They rarely thrive in anything but sub-tropical mainland climates, but can "hang on" for years as sickly houseplants. Second thing is that they are commonly called Frangipani, which could easily be misread as Fragrance at a quick glance. The flowers are extremely fragrant (and used extensively in commercial "lei" production). I have seen seed pods on plumeria bushes, but have never witnessed them explode. Just a thought!
     
  3. garden dreamer

    garden dreamer Member

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    Nanaim B.C.
    Plumeria or Frangapani

    Hello.... Just being new to this board and theis beautiful part of Canada... I to am very interested in growing the Plumeria (or anything that would represent the flowers and the heavenly scent it gives) Is it possible in this part of B.C. and if so any ideas on where I can get one. I look forward to your replies.

    Also, if anyone has any other ideas for fragrant plants or bushes, please let me know. I want to plant things that I could never dream of planting when we lived in Edmonton.

    Many Thanks
     
  4. garden dreamer

    garden dreamer Member

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    Nanaim B.C.
    Plumeria

    Can you purchase this plant (or something similar) here in B.C. and if so where?

    Many Thanks
     
  5. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Search "plumeria indoors", "plumeria culture" and the like before deciding you need to track one down. If still keen afterwards, look for retailers featuring tropical plants. Many are sold in Seattle each Feb. at NW Flower & Garden Show, I wonder how many of these succeed under the ordinary indoor conditions most of them are doubtless being subjected to.
     
  6. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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    Plumeria can be found at Hawaiian Botanicals in Richmond. There are also a couple of other places in Delta. By the way, I believe they are all deciduous except for P. obtusa.
     
  7. Eric La Fountaine

    Eric La Fountaine Contributor Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Hi garden dreamer,

    Unless you have a conservatory or greenhouse, I think plumeria will be very challenging to grow here. (It may be challenging with a green house.)


    For good fragrance try a daphne, especially good is Daphne odora, blooms in late Feb and March, fragrance intense and fruity. Some honeysuckles are richly fragrant, Lonicera 'Halliana' is very fragrant, blooms for a long period and is fairly easy to find at nurseries. Poet's jasmine, Jasminum officinale, will grow here and has the true sweet jasmine fragrance. Heliotrope can be grown easily in the summer garden here. I had luck with Zaluzianskya capensis from seed in my garden last year, incredible fragrance after dark.

    If you want to try tropicals, you may wish to try some smaller easier plants. Gardenias, brugmansias and Cestrum nocturnum produce intoxicating scent in abundance.

    These are just a few of my favourites for intense fragrance. I am sure there are many more sweet smelling plants that can be grown here.
     
  8. Chuck White

    Chuck White Active Member

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    Location:
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    GIven the proper growing conditions( almost any kind of soil, full sun, partial shade, deep shade, temps above freezing, little water, lots of water, in short, almost any conditions), the plumeria (frangipanni) will grow. It is one of the very few plants where you can break off any part, any time of the year, stick it in the ground, and have it keep right on growing. It does require warm temps. The individual seeds(they are packed in usually two pods that look like a set of bulls horns) are winged rather like maple seeds ,except that they only have one 'wing' per seed. And there might be 150 seeds in each of the two pods. I currently have prox 50-2 to 4 inch seedlings coming up under my trees. Some I will pot and the rest just pitch with the rest of the weeds. Our island has hundreds of plumeria in probably a dozen colors, so they aren't that special here.
    For a 'knock your hat off' night fragrance, try night blooming jasmine. They caution you not to plant it anywhere near a bedroom window if you sleep with the windows open, due to the very strong perfume.
     

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