Plumeria rubra

pink frangipani

A cluster of flowers on a pink frangipani tree, Plumeria rubra, with its long oval leaves in the background at The Botanic Gardens at Kona Kai Resort in Key Largo, Florida

In Ayurvedic medicine, essential oil derived from the flowers is used to bring about a calming effect. In the Caribbean, leaves have been used as a poultice for sores and wounds. In Vietnam, the bark is used to treat high blood pressure and indigestion, and the milky sap is used as a soothing balm for irritating skin conditions.

A close-up of a single five lobed flower from a pink frangipani tree, Plumeria rubra, on a wooden deck at The Botanic Gardens at Kona Kai Resort in Key Largo, Florida

In modern Polynesian culture, a woman may indicate her relationship status by wearing a plumeria flower over her left ear if she is married / in a relationship or over her right ear if she is seeking a relationship, so if you feel like picking one of these from our plants and putting it in your hair, be sure you do it on the correct side!

A twenty foot tall pink frangipani tree, Plumeria rubra, tree near the central courtyard at The Botanic Gardens at Kona Kai Resort in Key Largo, Florida

Pink frangipani prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soils. It can tolerate drought, but it loses all of its leaves and flowers anyways during the winter, which is our dry season here in the Keys.