These plumerias-gone-wild, above, comprise a grove of trees in Honolulu, Hawaii’s Koko Crater botanical garden. That’s The Plumeria Society of America’s Trish Weeks standing beneath them.
Will plumerias do this in Houston? Probably not. But . . . given global warming, well, who’s to say. They do get pretty big here too.
Did you see Kathy Huber’s great “Colorful Plumerias Are Tropical Treasures” article? (http://www.chron.com/life/article/Colorful-plumerias-are-tropical-treasure-3602337.php)
It’ll tell you everything you need to know about growing plumerias in Houston. Except maybe that they might get this big if we go a couple of winters with a truly hard freeze.
The thing about plumerias is that the longer they stay in the ground without a REALLY cold winter the more hardened they will be come and the colder the winters they’ll be able to withstand.
At this point, they’re dying back but, if the root systems fairly hardy, most are returning in the spring.
Plumerias are also known as frangipanis, which always makes me think of that line from “Strictly Ballroom” where everyone calls Fran “Frangipani de la squeegee mop.” Don’t joke about that in Laos. There the frangipani is the national tree (that’s right “tree”) and is considered so sacred, one is planted in every Buddhist temple. There they live for hundreds of years and develop spectacular gnarled trunks. Kind of like olives and fuchsias. Frangipani is also the national flower of Nicaragua and appears on its bank notes.
We don’t have to worry about plumerias suffering in our intense heat. It’s said you can’t burn a plumeria unless you can get a fire up to 500 degrees or higher.
Who else would tell you these things?
I don’t recommend this, but in the Caribbean, it’s said the leaves are used a healing wraps for bruises and sores, and the latex (sap) used as a liniment for rheumatism. In Vietnam, it’s used to treat indigestion and high blood pressure. White plumeria flowers are used to cure coughs, dysentery and fever. Remember, I told you NOT to try this at home.
On the other hand, if you want to do as the Polynesians do, use a plumeria over your right ear to let folks know you’re open to a new relationship. Over the left ear means “move along, I’m already taken.” According to “magical herbs” folks the plumeria or frangipani as they call it, this is a feminine flower, its element is water, its power is love and its used in casting love spells. Hindu women often wear plumeria flowers on wedding days to signify loyalty to their new husbands.
In Mexican lore, the gods were born from plumeria flowers. Malay folklore associates the scent of plumerias with vampires.
In India, it’s believed to be a symbol of immortality because it will continue to produce new leaves and flowers even after being lifted out of the ground. Indians often plant this near graveyards so fresh flowers will fall daily on the tombs.
Aztecs, some say, combined plumeria flowers with other plants and the internal organs of predatory animals they considered strong, cunning and brave. This potion was taken to cure fear, lethargy and faint-heartedness.
All this attention to the Hawaiian lei flower is due to the big Plumeria Society of America sale coming up July 14 at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, 3350 Hwy. 36 S. in Richmond. Details at www.theplumeriasociety.org.
Isn’t it neat that the national organization to honor this flower so popular across the globe was founded, and is based, in Houston,TX?
* Phlufermeria. It doesn’t mean anything. I made it up. I was trying to find a word that started with a “p” that meant “funny stuff.” Couldn’t find one so I made up this one. Hope it doesn’t turn out to mean something nasty.
. . .
A SAD UPDATE: The Houston gardening community lost a true legend with the recent passing of Bette Odale. Bette was a HUGE exclamation point in the Greater Houston area’s gardening circle. The years she spent on the radio with Bob Flagg, the probably thousands of gardening lectures she gave, the probably hundreds of horticulture committees she served on and — most of all — her friendly, open, generous persona all combined to make her one of our horticulture treasures . I adored her, respected her, learned from her, stole (tips) from her, and really loved her. Imagine my shock and delight when I learned, after years of being associated with her on the gardening circles, to find she lived almost literally right around the corner from me in Aldine! I’m so glad she came into my life.
If you have any wonderful memories of Bette, do log onto her obituary guest book and share them with her family. (http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/houstonchronicle/guestbook.aspx?n=bette-odale&pid=158395139&cid=full)
PS. And I know Bette’s laughing at my made-up word. She had a great sense of humor!
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CLUBS! (and other nonprofit gardening/environmental organizations): feel free to post your upcoming events through the Comments section on any of the Lazy Gardener blog posts (http://blogs.chron.com/lazygardener)
“THE LAZY GARDENER’S GUIDE ON CD” is perfect for those new to gardening, those who loves to garden or those who have to at least maintain a front yard so the neighbors won’t hate you! Month-by-month, when-to-do-what-in Greater Houston Area Gardens — plant? prune? fertilize? With 12 garden designs for butterflies, hummingbirds, sun, shade, herbs, antique roses, tropicals . . . you name it. Based on Brenda’s 40-year Chronicle column. Mail checks ($20) payable to Brenda Beust Smith to Lazy Gardener’s Guide on CD, 14011 Greenranch Dr., Houston, TX 77039. (email: firstname.lastname@example.org)