The Singapore graveyard flower is a tropical species with bright white flowers featuring a yellow centre and glossy, dark green leaves. The flowers give off a pleasant sweet scent and appear in warm conditions for much of the year. The species is native to the Caribbean, Mexico and parts of Central America, but is now planted in many tropical regions as an ornamental tree in gardens and parks.
Although the species bears many similarities to the common frangipani (Plumeria rubra), there are also differences. The leaves have a much more rounded tip in this species and it is largely evergreen, giving the plant an ornamental appearance even outside the flowering period. Furthermore, this white frangipani generally remains more compact and grows more like a large shrub than a true tree, making the species more suitable as a container plant. The difference from the white frangipani (Plumeria alba) lies in the broader leaves and overlapping petals.
The flowers mainly scent the air in the evening, so that they are pollinated by moths. They contain no nectar, meaning that pollinators are unfortunately not rewarded for their visit.
The plant’s thick branches store water, making the species fairly drought-tolerant. In the Netherlands, the species thrives as a houseplant or container plant, for which a sunny position and well-draining soil are important. Water regularly during the growing season, but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. At lower temperatures, the plant grows more slowly and the soil may be kept slightly drier.
Sowing description: Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 6 hours and sow in sowing mix. Germination usually occurs after a couple of weeks at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Keep the soil continually moistened.
