Founding florist
Tulipanna
Bondi NSW · est. 1992
A Bondi Road florist since 1992, with seasonal bouquets, arrangements, roses and potted orchids, and a weekly note on what's at market.
Seasonal cut flowerPlumeria rubra
Frangipani: when it's in season in Australia
Frangipani is in season in Australia from November to April.Being confirmed
- Right now
- Out of season in September
- Season
- November to April
- Vase life
- 2 to 3 days
Season by state
Frangipani is the scent of an Australian summer. Trees flower through the warm months, roughly November to April, in Sydney, Brisbane and along the east coast, and can flower year-round in the tropical north. Cut blooms are fragile and last only two or three days, so they are mostly used as single flowers for hair, leis, cake decorating and floating in bowls rather than as long-stemmed bunches. Colours run from classic white with a yellow centre through pinks and apricots to deep red.
Where to buy frangipani
Usually sold as loose single blooms rather than stems, and mostly through wedding and event florists. Being confirmed
How to choose good frangipani
Frangipanis are rarely sold as stems, so you either pick your own or buy a plant. From the garden, take flowers on the day they open, with firm, waxy petals, and leave the ones that have dropped. Wipe away the milky sap as you go. When buying a plant, go in late spring or summer, when trees are in flower and you can see the colour. Choose a potted tree with thick, firm branches, no soft or blackened tips, and several forks, because flowers form at the branch ends. Named varieties cost more than the common white. Bare cuttings are also sold and root easily in warm weather.
Grown here or imported?
Frangipani is not native to Australia, but it's grown here commercially.
Where it's grown
Frangipani comes from Central America but has made itself at home in warm parts of Australia. It thrives from Sydney north through Brisbane to the tropics, and grows well in Perth and Adelaide gardens. In Melbourne it needs a sheltered, north-facing spot, often in a pot, because frost and temperatures below about 5°C damage the fleshy stems. Commercially it is a nursery crop rather than a cut flower. Specialist farms, including one on the Sunshine Coast with more than 200 varieties in rows, sell cuttings to collectors, potted trees to nurseries and landscapers, and some flowers to florists. Most trees are grown from cuttings, which root readily.
Stems at Australian markets are mostly grown here, so when it is out of season it is hard to find. Being confirmed
Colours, varieties and care
Colours
- white with yellow centre
- pink
- apricot
- yellow
- crimson
- burgundy
Varieties to ask for
- Common White
- Fruit Salad
- Darwin Blood Red
- Bali Whirl
- Singapore White
Vase life
2 to 3 days Being confirmed
Making it last
- Pick or buy blooms in the cool of the morning
- Check for bruising or browning on the petals
- Float them in a shallow bowl of clean water
- Keep them humid and cool, and mist lightly to stop them drying out
- Handle by the base, as the petals bruise easily
Using it at home
Treat frangipanis as floating flowers. A wide, shallow bowl, a low glass dish or even a saucer lets them sit face up on the water, a few at a time. Over summer they share a bowl well with gardenias, and from January tuberose nearby adds more scent. For a vase arrangement, tuck a single bloom low among hydrangea heads or lisianthus. The flowers stay fresh for a day or two, then the petals soften, crease and turn translucent at the edges. They do not dry well, so enjoy them fresh and pick more.
Where to see it growing
Sydney Flower Market
Flemington
Best: all yearBeing confirmed
Brisbane Flower Market
Rocklea
Best: all yearBeing confirmed
Questions people ask
When is frangipani season in Australia?
Frangipanis flower in the warm months, roughly November to April, in temperate and subtropical areas such as Sydney and Brisbane. In the tropical north they can flower almost all year round.
Can you use frangipani as a cut flower?
Yes, but they are short-lived, lasting two or three days. They are best floated in a bowl, worn in the hair or used in leis and on cakes, rather than as a vase bunch.
What colours do frangipanis come in?
The common form is white with a yellow centre. Named varieties come in pink, apricot, yellow, deep crimson and multicoloured forms such as Fruit Salad.
Can you grow frangipani in Melbourne?
Yes, with care. Grow it in a large pot or in the warmest north-facing spot you have, ideally under an eave or verandah to keep off cold air. Start with a rooted plant rather than a cutting, keep it almost dry over winter, and move pots under cover when frost is forecast.
Is frangipani poisonous to dogs?
The milky sap can irritate skin, eyes and mouths, and eating leaves or flowers may upset a dog's stomach. Being confirmed Serious poisoning appears to be uncommon, but it is worth stopping puppies from chewing fallen flowers and branches. If your dog has eaten a lot or seems unwell, call your vet.
