Plumeria obtusa (Singapore Plumeria)

If the name of Plumeria, or the frangipani, doesn’t seem to ring a bell, we assure you that you’ve definitely seen it – at least in a movie! There, a new visitor comes to Hawaii and walks out of the airport wearing an Hawaiian lei around their neck in total bewilderment and bliss. That lei (or a garland of flowers, a traditional gesture of affection in Hawaii) is made of Plumeria flowers. Yes-yes, now you know their name! These flowers actually grow on trees with large-leaved foliage and are highly fragrant (especially at night!). They bloom from spring through fall and come in a multitude of colors: red, and pink, and white, and whatnot. Native to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central, and South America, Plumeria flowers may seem unreachable to you if you happen to live in cold regions with harsh winters. But this is not entirely true. With a little luck and some knowledge, you can grow your own Plumeria – well, at least in a pot!