Plumeria obtusa

Plumeria obtusa keeps everything the frangipani is loved for, perfumed white flowers with a soft yellow eye through the warm months, and holds its deep green, glossy foliage year-round in warm climates, sparing the bare winter silhouette of the common species.

In the landscape

A natural for pools, courtyards and resort-style plantings, used singly or in informal groups; the rounded evergreen crown suits tropical and contemporary coastal schemes alike. Plant it where the scent gathers, beside terraces, entries and outdoor rooms, and it is equally comfortable in a generous container.

Growing notes

Best in the tropics and warm, frost-free subtropics, coastal Queensland and sheltered warm positions into northern New South Wales; frost-tender, and fully evergreen only where winters stay warm. Full sun on free-draining soil, with strong tolerance of coastal exposure and dry spells once established. Moderate growth, maturing around 4–6 m tall and wide in the ground.

This tree

• Currently standing: 96 trees

Field-grown ex-ground at Donkin Farm, Utchee Creek, root-pruned and basket-lifted, delivered and craned Australia-wide; price on application through the Shortlist.