Tag Archives: Plumeria

Plumeria rubra blooms

Plumeria

Plumeria rubra, otherwise known as frangipani, is similar in appearance to plumeria obtusa, otherwise known as Singapore plumeria. But where plumeria obtusa is evergreen, plumeria rubra is deciduous.

This is the time of year when plumeria rubra begins blooming again. The flowers appear before the leaves, starting in January around here. This photo, taken in spring of last year, shows the flowers well established with a few green leaves also showing.

White plumeria

This week’s posts are on the theme of the WordPress photo challenge, ‘Tour Guide.’

Tropical foliage and flowers are another Hawaii must-see. Those tender house plants back home grow like weeds here. The east side of the Big Island, with its copious rainfall, is lush and green with sprays of tropical color as different plants come into bloom.

Plumerias are a quintessential tropical plant, much used here in the making of leis.

May Day is Lei Day

Plumeria flowers are widely used in leis.
May 1 has been celebrated as Lei Day in Hawaii since 1929 and is a celebration of Hawaiian culture. Each island has a different lei. The Island of Hawaii (the Big Island) features the Ohia blossom.

Plumeria flowers such as these, still attached to the tree, are often used in leis because of their fragrance and rich colors.

Cuckoo wasp

Cuckoo wasp on a frangipani.Cuckoo wasp on a frangipani.

I saw this small, bright insect flitting about on the new growth of a plumeria. The cuckoo wasp gets its name from its practice of laying eggs in the nests of other wasps and bees. Once hatched, the cuckoo wasp eats the host wasp or bee larva. Then it eats the food placed in the nest for the host’s offspring. Probably not an insect to invite to your next dinner party.

For more information about cuckoo wasps, go to bugguide.net/node/view/6946.