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Looking for a striking tree that has gorgeous flowers, evergreen foliage, and a sweet scent?

You’re in luck – the Hymenosporum flavum native frangipani is the perfect tree for your garden.

This Australian native has an upright growth habit, glossy green leaves, and sweet-smelling yellow flowers. Its upright, compact form makes it perfect for small gardens or hedging.

Native frangipani is also fairly low-maintenance – so long as it has full sun and good drainage, it’ll thrive.

Like other Aussie plants, frangipanis are perfect for water-wise or native gardens. And you’ll be supporting native biodiversity while enjoying the view of the gorgeous, easygoing Aussie frangipani tree.

When to Plant | Growing Conditions | How to Grow | Native Frangipani Care | Plant is Losing Leaves?

 

Hello, Hymenosporum Flavum!

Stunning fragrant flowers of Hymenosporum flavum, or Native Frangipani

You may be familiar with the “true” frangipani – the exotic Plumeria varieties with flowers in white, pink, or red. The Hymenosporum flavum native frangipani isn’t related to those, despite sharing the name.

Hymenosporum flavum frangipanis are native to Australia. They primarily grow in New South Wales and Queensland, but can also be found in New Guinea.

You’ll recognise the Aussie frangipani by its glossy green leaves and layered horizontal branches. In spring and summer, the yellow flowers attract native bees and nectar-feeding birds.

These native trees are popular in Aussie gardens since they can tolerate a range of climates and conditions. Their compact form makes them perfect for smaller yards and hedging.

 

When to Plant Native Frangipani

You can grow Hymenosporum flavum year-round, but the best time to plant your native frangipani is late winter to early spring.

Planting your frangipani before the growing season also lets it properly establish its roots.

 

Growing Conditions for Native Frangipani

Like other Aussie native plants, Hymenosporum flavum isn’t too fussy about its growing conditions.

 

Soil

Flowering Australian native frangipani tree with vibrant green leaves and yellow and white blooms in an outdoor setting

Hymenosporum flavum native frangipani prefers rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter.

It can tolerate both slightly alkaline and slightly acidic conditions.

 

Light

To get the brightest, most lush flowers, plant your native frangipani where it gets full sun!

However, this native flowering tree can tolerate part-shade – especially if that helps shelter it from strong winds.

 

Climate

Hymenosporum flavum native frangipani grows best in subtropical, Mediterranean, and warm temperate climates.

You can still grow this rainforest tree in cool temperate climates so long as the plant is sheltered in winter. You can use horticultural fleece or hessian.

The tree may not do so well in alpine climates and most of Tasmania, outside of coastal areas.

 

Where to plant

Flowers of Hymenosporum flavum, or Native Frangipani tree blooming outdoors

The best place to plant Hymenosporum flavum native frangipani is in an open, sunny position!

It’s perfect as a feature tree in a small garden thanks to the deep green foliage and yellow flowers.

You can also get the Hymenosporum flavum ‘Gold Nugget’, which is a shrub cultivar. The cultivar works well as a privacy plant or border hedge since the plant is evergreen.

Keep your tree around 2m from any structure to maintain good ventilation and sun exposure. It’s also recommended to plant native frangipanis at least 3m away from sewerage.

Avoid positioning your Hymenosporum flavum at a low point of the yard (where water could pool) or in full shade.

 

How to Grow Native Frangipani Trees

You can grow Hymenosporum flavum native frangipani from seed, but it can take several years for the plant to mature.

It’s easiest to grow native frangipani from tubestock or a young sapling. Check your local nursery or garden centre to see if they carry the plant – it can be tricky to source.

Choose a sunny spot in your garden with well-draining soil. You can test the phosphorus levels of the soil before planting, as most Aussie native plants do poorly in high-phosphorus conditions.

Carefully take your young frangipani tree out of its container. Dig a hole that’s just as deep and slightly wider than the root ball – including the soil surrounding it.

Avoid removing the soil or disturbing the roots unless you notice some issues (e.g. tangled roots). Untangle or cut off problem roots as necessary.

Place the root ball directly into the ground and gently backfill with soil. Water the area well to help settle the soil and roots.

Keep the ground consistently moist but not soggy while the plant establishes itself. 

With young frangipani plants, it’s important to protect them from too-cold temperatures and strong winds. Stake the seedlings if it’s windy, and shelter them with horticultural fleece or hessian in winter.

 

Native Frangipani Tree Care

Close up of Hymenosporum flavum, or Native Frangipani tree flowers

Once established, native frangipanis are fairly low-maintenance. So long as they have full sun and good drainage, they’ll be happy!

 

Watering

Native frangipani is drought-tolerant when established, but shouldn’t be left in dry conditions for too long. Water when the soil has fully dried out.

In hot, dry climates – or periods of drought – supplement your plant with water every few weeks. In general, it’s best to underwater frangipanis since they don’t like wet feet.

Seedlings or young plants will need regular watering and consistent moisture until they have matured.

You can help retain moisture by layering organic mulch around the base of the tree.

 

Pruning

Yellow flowers of Hymenosporum flavum, or Native Frangipani blooming against sky blue background

Native frangipani typically doesn’t need pruning. You can do some light trimming and deadheading after flowering to maintain the plant’s shape and promote denser growth.

You’ll only need to prune a Hymenosporum flavum if you find:

  • Unruly growth
  • Too-old growth
  • Broken branches
  • Dead or diseased branches

Want a more compact form? You can keep native frangipani small with regular pruning, especially if you don’t have much space. 

Cut back this hardy Australian native in late winter or early spring. You can also check with local expert gardeners on maintaining your frangipanis, especially for hedge maintenance.

 

Fertilising

Like other Aussie native plants, native frangipani doesn’t need fertiliser or additional nutrients.

It’s optional, but you can use a slow-release native fertiliser (low-phosphorus) in early spring to promote healthy growth and lush flowers.

 

Why is My Native Frangipani Losing Its Leaves?

Australian Native Frangipani flower wilting

If your Hymenosporum flavum is losing leaves and looking sickly, a likely cause is scale.

Scale insect infestations are the most common of native frangipani tree problems. The insects attack the stems and foliage.

Some signs to look for include:

  • Yellowing leaves
  • Sticky sap along branches
  • Black, sooty mould (like ash)

You can treat scale insect infestations with oil-based pest control solutions. Spray the entire tree once every few weeks until the infestation and mould have disappeared.

One other common cause of frangipani leaf loss is overwatering. This Australian native does not like soggy conditions, and too much water could lead to root rot.

 

FAQs About Frangipanis

Whether you’re planning to grow an Aussie frangipani or just curious about the tree, here are some other things to know about our Hymenosporum flavum.

 

Does native frangipani have invasive roots?

No, Hymenosporum flavum doesn’t have an invasive root system! In fact, the root system is shallow and spreading.

Since the root ball is small, Aussie frangipani are prone to toppling in strong winds.

 

How big does a native frangipani grow?

Hymenosporum flavum in full bloom outdoors

In cultivation, native frangipani height typically reaches 10-12m. However, in the wild, they can get up to 25m tall!

There is also a dwarf native frangipani, the Hymenosporum flavum ‘Gold Nugget’ that is only 1m tall.

Hymenosporum flavum is a fast-growing native tree, getting to 5m in height within a few years.

 

When does Australian native frangipani flower?

Hymenosporum flavum typically flowers from mid-spring to early summer!

The flowers start out white or cream, then turn yellow over the next few weeks. They also fill the air with a sweet, heady fragrance that attracts beneficial insects and wildlife.

 

Is native frangipani fruit edible?

After flowering, native frangipani might produce hard, brown fruit capsules. These are not edible and may cause adverse reactions in people and pets if ingested.

The pods contain the brown, papery seeds which can be germinated.

About Author

Jamie Donovan

Jamie is an Australian horticulturalist and landscape designer. He enjoys writing about landscape architecture, garden design and lifestyle topics.

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About Author

Jamie Donovan

Jamie is an Australian horticulturalist and landscape designer. He enjoys writing about landscape architecture, garden design and lifestyle topics.

Share