Are you going troppo dreaming of exotic places where palm fringed jungles drip with perfumed tropical flowers and fruits, their scent hanging heavy in the warm night air? Paradise may be closer than you think. A taste of the tropics can be brought closer to home through the garden, as the world of plants can transport us to exotic locations.
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Nothing speaks tropical as much as Frangipani and these botanical beauties offer so much more these days with a palette of delicious colours bound to quench the thirst of any gardener seeking a taste of the tropics.
Frangipani are now available in a variety of colour forms. The ubiquitous white and yellow flowers of Frangipani are competing with stunning varieties in solitary colours and bicolour combinations in pinks, orange, lilacs and reds with pastel shades included, all dripping with an exquisite fragrance.
These deciduous trees will grow to around 8m but there are also smaller dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties available. At home in containers or in the ground, Frangipani are an ideal selection for tropical, sub tropical and temperate climates to create a tropical effect. If grown in containers they can become top heavy, select a broad container to prevent plants from blowing over in windy conditions.
Frangipani are quite tolerant of a broad range of soil types but do require reasonable drainage. Plant in a raised beds where heavy clay soils prevail. Once established Frangipani are fairly drought tolerant and can survive on rainfall alone although the occasional watering will improve plant performance.
Include other plants in the garden with bold foliage, large leaves and differences in foliage colour to take the tropical effect to the next level. Plants with broad or strap like leaves, variegated foliage, coloured foliage, palm-like appearance and ferns, all add to the element of a tropical effect.
Frangipani are easily propagated from cuttings, the trick is to allow the cutting base to dry out and callous over before planting. Cuttings can be taken in late spring to early summer but almost any time will do.
Cut lengths of stems or prune off a branch, remove most of the lower leaves and any flower buds. Stand cuttings upright in a shady place for one to four weeks. Once the base has dried, insert into a pot filled with coarse sand and water sparingly until roots form.
Let Frangipani transport you to an exotic location, the effect can be intoxicating.
