Frangipani flowers love summer. The Aussie Christmas Tree.

“Summer loving had me a blast. Summer loving happened so fast…Summer days drifting away, to, oh, oh, the summer nights.” Yes, sing along with us at Fancy Frangipanis as we use this song made famous by the movie Grease, to welcome our favourite time of the year, the frangipani flower season of summer. To us, the tropical and sweet aroma and the beauty that is the frangipani tree in full bloom are what the typical Aussie summer looks like. And when Christmas comes, families love to decorate their trees with tinsel, baubles and everything that sparkles and reminds them of the happiest time of the year, Christmas. The kids are on holiday too, so it’s the prime time to embrace your gorgeous Aussie Christmas tree, the frangipani.

During the silly season and vacation period as families head away on their annual holiday activities, we are reminded of how prominent the frangipani tree is here in Australia. Families are finding them planted around resort pools, by the beach and in children’s playgrounds due to their hardy tolerance to our climate. Not only can the kiddos climb their branches at home, but they can extend the fun on vacation, climbing and daydreaming on the branches of the frangipani tree they discover on their travels. Although the frangipani is synonymous with beauty and the oh-so-sweet scent from its flowers, it is also a remarkable tree that creates nostalgic and wonderfully warm, and fun memories for each person that falls in love with them. And at Fancy Frangipanis, we agree! We too think the frangipani is a timeless tree, never to be forgotten! So whether you are embracing the Christmas season or are enjoying the holidays, the frangipani tree will fill you and your loved ones with joy and a reminder of the spirit of giving and loving each other this summer and Christmas season. So, if you’re ready to smile and find your happy place, start by listening to this original song, dedicated to the Plumeria tree. I guarantee you will be feeling great after hearing this Hawaiian melody.

When do Frangipani flower? In Australia, plumeria typically begin blooming in Spring and continue until early autumn. In warmer regions of the country, they may bloom continuously from September through to April. The flowers they produce are incredible. Frangipani flowers are tubular, expanding into a “pinwheel” of five petals that averages 50 to 75mm in diameter and may be white, red, yellow, pink, or multiple colours. Flowers of most cultivars are highly fragrant and can bloom for extended periods. The hybrids differ in their profusion of blooms, with some producing more than 200 flowers per cluster and others 50–60 flowers, and the fragrances they produce are amazing. From citrus to coconut, jasmine to peach and just about every sweet scent in between. We call them “Fancy Frangipanis’, get it, our name…? Moving on. If you started your frangipani from a cutting, flowers can be expected within the first year, depending on the original cutting size and the time of year that it was taken. Frangipani in the garden Frangipanis are a spectacular plant. Their flowers and fragrance bring a romantic feeling to any garden, and they will never go out of fashion because they are drought tolerant. Despite breeding advances in flower, colour and shape, frangipani fragrance remains the true prize. Grow them where you can appreciate their delicious scent, which intensifies at night. Their size and umbrella-shaped silhouette make frangipanis ideal for landscapes, both large and small. In summer they cast dappled shade. Seen lining footpaths, they create beautiful avenues and are ideal for framing distant views, perhaps planted at your beachside home. Use a pair on either side of an entrance to create a sense of welcome, or employ the deliberate use of spotlights at night to dramatically illuminate their flowers and shapely form. Grow them in lawns and let their flowers cover the ground. Their light canopy can be underplanted with perennials, or utilise their forked branches to support hanging baskets such as ferns, orchids, and colourful foliage plants such as cordylines and bromeliads. Grown in tubs, frangipanis make colourful pool-side specimens and are ideal for hot or sunny balconies or patios.

There’s no doubt that the frangipani will be captured in your heart and senses forever. Even if you haven’t had your magical frangipani memory yet, maybe it’s time to start today?! Come and visit us as Fancy Frangipanis and we will happily help you create your own traditions and memories. And if you have, you are already an avid frangipani fan, then welcome to the Fancy Frangipanis family.