Make your garden smile with a Frangipani! - Jan 20, 2017
Some plants like it hot!
Dear gardening friends
It's been one of the hottest January's on record and many plants in your garden are struggling to survive. But there is one small tree that thrives during the heat and produces spectacular perfumed flowers too.
Frangipanis are tropical trees that can thrive in your garden if you find the right spot. They are sun loving plants that can grow up to 3-5 metres high in 20 years and they do best if they are planted up against a northern or western facing brick wall. The wall heats up during the day and helps to protect your Frangipani during winter.
There are over 95 known varieties in Australia so there is a colour to suit every style of garden. Most nurseries and chain stores would be lucky to have 5 varieties to choose from but at Tim's Garden Centre we have over 20 varieties.
I spotted this rare yellow flowering Frangipani growing up against a northern facing brick wall in Manly.
We have a yellow flowering variety similar to this one called "Darwin Yellow". It has highly perfumed bright yellow flowers all through summer. This is one of my favourites.
If you're looking for something a little bit more fancy we have a red and yellow flowering variety called "Darwin Sunset". This variety has that amazing Frangipani Fragrance that we've all come to love.
Be careful with your choice because not all Frangipanis have a perfume.
If you plant a Frangipani out the front of your house then in years to come your Frangipani will put on a summer show like the ones in the photo above, all summer long! You can float the flowers in a dish and enjoy the fragrance inside your home.
Frangipanis can be grown in big pots in sunny spots too. The pot needs to hold at least 2-3 bags of Tim's Best Potting mix.
Water at least twice weekly and feed with Tim's Fast Food every spring. Look for a Dwarf variety called Dwarf Pink Petite if you have limited space.
All our Frangipanis come with picture labels which makes choosing a colour easier. Some of the varieties in stock now include Perfumed Blush, Goldilocks, Thai Beauty, Darwin Sunset, Blood Sun, Darwin Yellow, Kimo, Dwarf Pink Petite, Bali Whirl, Cherry Clusters, Little Rainbow, Darwin Blood, Sally Morange and Sydney 2000.
It's best to plant Frangipanis during Summer so they get time to acclimatise before the winter cold arrives. Plant them on a mound of IGC Planting Compost Improved soil for best results. If you just dig a hole in the clay, don't expect them to thrive.
We have advanced plants for just $29.99 or buy 2 for $50.00 and save. You can plant two different colours in the one spot and make your own fruit salad tree.
Frangipanis lose their leaves in winter to allow the winter sun to shine into your garden. I even love Frangipanis when they are nude. Shine a garden light up from the bottom and you will be amazed how good they look at night.
Frangipanis can be grown from cuttings but it will take up to 2 years to get an advanced plant like ours. Notice how the tree in the photo above has had the bottom branches stolen by Gardeners. If you are going to get a cutting please ask before you take.
Magnolia Teddy Bears have arrived this week so if you are after an evergreen tree with perfumed flowers choose one of these. We have advanced plants for $80.00 less your Tim's Garden Club Discount.
Come and see us if you need help in the garden.
Happy Gardening
Tim