How to Plant Plumeria in the Ground

Plumeria produces beautiful fragrant flowers in various colors.

Plumeria is a semi-evergreen or deciduous shrub or small tree from the Apocynaceae family. They're known for their beautiful fragrant flowers that are regularly used to make leis. This tropical beauty blooms from spring through summer and is commonly called frangipani, Hawaiian lei flower, West Indian jasmine and pagoda tree. Plumeria grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 through 12. Make plans to plant the plumeria in the spring to allow the roots to develop before the heat of summer.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Knife
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Clear a planting site with well-drained soil and full sun. Pick a location with the needed room for the mature size of the plumeria. This varies among varieties and can go up to 25 feet tall with a spread of more than 10 feet.

2. Dig a hole a little shallower than the depth of the plumeria's container or root ball and double or triple the width. The wide planting hole allows the roots to spread easier.

3. Take the plumeria plant out of the container and check the root system. Remove any damaged or frail roots found with a sharp knife.

4. Place the plant in the center of the hole. Backfill the hole halfway with the removed soil and then fill the hole with water. This will force the soil down around the plumeria's roots and get rid of any air bubbles.

5. Fill the hole to the top after the water drains and then drench the soil again to settle the plumeria in place. The plant needs no less than 1 inch of water every week from spring to fall from rainfall or through watering.

6. Cover the ground surrounding the planting hole with a 3-inch thick layer of mulch. Do not put the mulch against the plumeria's trunk.

References

• Florida Gardener: Frangipani - Plant of the Month
• National Gardening Association: Plant Care Guides - Plumeria

Resources

• The Plumeria Society of America