Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani

Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’, commonly known as the Tricolour Frangipani, is a deciduous small tree with a rounded canopy and distinctive flowering display. Its branches are thick and grey, with large, leathery green leaves clustered at the ends of each stem. Through summer and autumn, this variety produces clusters of fragrant, overlapping flowers that combine pink, cream, and yellow tones in each bloom. Mature trees usually reach 5–8 metres in height and 4–6 metres in width, with a balanced, spreading canopy.

This tree grows at a moderate rate in warm climates and requires a frost-free position. It is deciduous, losing its foliage in winter, and thrives in full sun with well-drained soils. Once established, Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ is drought tolerant and low-maintenance, needing little more than seasonal feeding and occasional pruning. It is known to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, enhancing garden biodiversity.

They look excellent when planted as feature specimens in tropical or coastal gardens, along driveways, or near pools and courtyards where their colourful summer flowers can be fully appreciated. They are also highly effective in group plantings or used to frame garden entrances in warm, frost-free landscapes.

Common Name: Tricolour Frangipani

Genus: Plumeria

Botanical Species: Plumeria rubra

Family: Apocynaceae

Botanical Name: Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’

• Feature Tree
• Council or Civic Landscapes

Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani works in an:

• Tropical Garden – lush, leafy planting for a resort-style atmosphere.
• Mediterranean Style Garden – timeless courtyard look with stone, pots, and bold greenery.
• Coastal Garden – relaxed, seaside feel with hardy, textural plants.
• Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani is an Deciduous (Defoliates throughout colder months) Tree

Mature Height: 5–8 metres

Mature Width: 4–6 metres

Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani is expected to grow 30 – 60 cm per year (moderate).

Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani is expected to grow 30 – 60 cm per year (moderate).

They are considered to have a:

• Medium Growth Rate

Is Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani frost tolerant?

Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani is Not Frost Tolerant – Cannot survive frost, should be avoided in frost-prone areas.

• Tropical QLD (Cairns, Townsville)
• Subtropical QLD (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast)
• Northern NSW (Byron, Coffs, Armidale)
• Sydney & Central Coast
• South Coast NSW (Illawarra to Bega)
• Adelaide Metro & Coastal

Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ produces large, intensely fragrant clusters of pink, yellow and white blooms from late spring through autumn. The striking tricolour petals create a vibrant tropical display at the branch tips, with repeat flowering throughout the warmer months.

Does Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani flower?

• Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

• Summer
• Autumn

Flower Type:

• Clustered
• Pollinator-attracting

Flower Colour:

Pink

No

Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani is Native to Central America and the Caribbean, where Plumeria rubra grows naturally in tropical and subtropical climates.

Its nectar-rich, highly scented flowers attract bees, butterflies and moths, providing a valuable food source across the warm season. The sculptural branching also offers perching opportunities for small birds, adding gentle biodiversity to tropical and coastal gardens.

Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani will thrive best in:

• Full Sun
• Part Shade

Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ performs best in well-drained sandy or loam soils and tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions. Highly sensitive to waterlogging, it may fail in heavy clay unless extensively improved with coarse sand and organic matter to maximise drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, infrequent watering as the tree matures to support drought resilience, strong trunk development and prolific warm-season flowering.

Is Plumeria rubra ‘Tricolour’ – Tricolour Frangipani Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it requires regular watering, but once established Tricolour Frangipani develops excellent drought tolerance. Naturally adapted to hot, dry, coastal and tropical conditions, it thrives with deep but infrequent watering and maintains strong flowering even through extended dry spells.