What does plumeria mean?
Plumeria is the name of a genus of flowering shrubs and small trees native to the tropical Americas and now cultivated in warm climates worldwide. Its best-known feature is the large, waxy, five-petaled flower, which may be white, yellow, pink, red, or a combination of these colors. Many varieties have a strong, sweet fragrance described as citrus-like, peony-like, or jasmine-like, making the blossoms popular in gardens, leis, wedding decorations, and floral displays. The plant requires warm conditions, abundant sunlight, and well-drained soil, and it may lose its leaves during dry periods. Plumeria is also widely known as frangipani, a common name particularly familiar in Hawaii, although the two terms are not always used identically. The scientific name honors Charles Plumier, a French botanist who studied plants during extensive seventeenth-century expeditions.
nounA plumeria is any shrub or small tree in the genus Plumeria, especially one of the ornamental species cultivated for its fragrant, waxy, five-petaled flowers. The flowers commonly appear in white, yellow, pink, or red and may remain on the branches for extended periods.
- Any shrub or small tree belonging to the genus Plumeria.
- The fragrant, five-petaled flower of a plumeria plant, often used in floral arrangements and cultural garlands.
"Fragrant white plumeria blossoms filled the garden with a sweet, citrus-like scent."
"The plumeria in the courtyard produced clusters of creamy white flowers."
"She tucked a delicate plumeria into her hair before the celebration."
The plural normally refers to multiple plants, individual flowers, or a collection of them.
"Several plumerias grew along the garden's sunny boundary."
A plumeria carries the name of a seventeenth-century French botanist, Charles Plumier, whose expeditions helped reveal the plant's remarkable beauty.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of plumeria
The name plumeria was formed from the surname Plumier in honor of the French botanist Charles Plumier. Plumier conducted extensive botanical expeditions in the Caribbean and Central America during the late seventeenth century. His work helped European botanists describe and popularize many tropical plants, including the flowering genus that bears his name.
How plumeria is actually used
The term is most often used in tropical horticulture and floristry. In some regions, especially Hawaii and parts of Polynesia, frangipani is the more familiar name for the plant and its flower; Plumeria rubra is also commonly called red frangipani or Singapore frangipani.
Easily confused with plumeria
Frangipani is a common name for plumeria, especially the widely cultivated Plumeria rubra, whereas plumeria is the scientific genus name for the entire group of related species.