Plumeria
growers worldwide, especially in temperate climates, are looking for
dwarf and compact varieties to grow in pots. This allows for easy
handling of the plants when cooler weather arrives and the plants
need to be brought indoors.
What
exactly would be considered a dwarf plumeria plant? This question
might be answered by plumeria growers in different ways.
Some
consider plumeria plants to be dwarfs as long as they don't exceed a
height of eight feet which might be considered tall but definitely
not dwarf by others.
In
recent years many dwarf plumeria plants have been introduced to the
public with Plumeria rubra 'Devine' and Plumeria rubra 'Mini White'
being labeled true miniatures. These two miniatures are very
floriferous with flowering occuring at sometimes one inch or less
from the last flowering point on the plant. Generally, there are more
than forty growing tips, branches, on one average two foot tall
'Divine' plant.
Plumeria
obtusa 'Dwarf Singapore Pink' is considered a true dwarf plant which,
even under ideal conditions, rarely grows more than six to eight
inches per year. 'Dwarf Singapore Pink' develops several branches
after each inflorescence starts to develop. The leaves of “Dwarf
Singapore Pink' are oblong and have a shiny green color. The white
flowers with a yellow center have a sweet fragrance. With proper
growing conditions, 'Dwarf Singapore Pink' grows and flowers
throughout the year.
 |
| Plumeria obtusa 'Dwarf Singapore Pink' |
Plumeria
obtusa 'Dwarf Singapore' has white, cup-shaped flowers with a lemony
fragrance. It grows
and flowers, like 'Dwarf Singapore Pink', throughout the year if
provided with the right growing conditions.
Plumeria
obtusa 'Dwarf Deciduous', an easy to grow plumeria, produces white
flowers with a golden center. The fragrance of the flowers is strong
and reminds one of citrus. Plumeria obtusa 'Dwarf Deciduous' is a
very floriferous plant with many flowers opening at the same time
resulting in full inflorescences, flower stalks.
Plumeria
'Dwarf Richard Criley', an evergreen variety, produces flowers which
are similar in shape to 'Dwarf Singapore Pink', but larger in
diameter. 'Dwarf Richard Criley' produces rainbow colored flowers
with an orange center that bleeds into the petals. The flowers have a
light spicy fragrance.
Plumeria
'Dwarf Siam Yellow' has uniquely crinckled glossy leaves. The flowers
are yellow with a sweet fragrance. 'Dwarf Siam Yellow' is a slow
grower.
These
are some plumeria plants which are considered “dwarfs”. Select
hand pollination results in new releases of dwarf varieties each
year.
Compact
plants are not necessarily classified as dwarf plants.
But what
entitles plumeria plants to be classified as compact plants?
Plumeria
can be considered compact when they bloom and branch at short
distances resulting in a many branched tree.
Plumeria
'Pink Pansy' has white pansy shaped flowers with a golden yellow
center and marked pink edging. The fragrance of these flowers is very
sweet. 'Pink Pansy' is a very compact grower and great candidate for
container gardening as it can be kept on the small side, four to six
feet, with proper pruning.
Plumeria
'Penang Peach', named after the Malaysian island of Penang, is
another compact growing variety. The flowers of 'Penang Peach' are
yellow to orange, have a very sweet fragrance and excellent keeping
quality. One distinct characteristic of 'Penang Peach' is that the
leaves show a hook at the tip.
Plumeria
'Yellow Jack Compact' produces three to four inch yellow flowers with
small white edging. The petals reflex, bend backwards, creating a
lovely effect. The fragrance is very sweet. 'Yellow Jack Compact' is
a very compact growing tree.
As time
goes on more and more dwarf and compact plumeria varieties with
outstanding characteristics, like big colorful flowers with good
keeping quality, will be developed to bring joy to both indoor and
outdoor gardeners.
Copyright © Bob Walsh