The frangipani is a tree native to Central America, whose cultivation has spread to all tropical regions.
Thai name: Lila wat dii
In the past, Frangipani was planted mainly in temples, as its old name evoked bad things (champa khawm?) and that in some popular beliefs, it served as a shelter for ghosts and demons, very superstitious Thais avoided planting it in their garden.
The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn then decided to give it a new name: Lila wat dii, and it is thanks to her that we can now admire this tree, with its magnificent flowers and pleasant fragrances, all over Thailand, even in private gardens.
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Origin of names
The common name 'frangipani' comes from the fragrance of its flowers resembling a scent created in Italy by the famous perfumer, Mr Frangipani.
The scientific name 'Plumeria' was given in honor of Charles PLUMIER (1646-1704), a 17th-century French botanist, who described Plumerias during his travels in the Caribbean.
Description of Frangipani
It is a tree known to withstand long periods of drought. The genus comprises seven species and many hybrids.
The flowers can be red, pink, purple, white or yellow (and about 5 to 10 cm wide).
It is a plant that often exceeds 10 meters in height in its natural environment, but rarely exceeds 2 meters in a pot (or even less for its 'dwarf' version and Bonsai of course!).
Photos of Frangipani
photos: Pierreto
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