Scientific name: Plumeria rubra 'Acutifolia'

Alias: Maine gardenia, egg yolk flower , big seasonal flower, India vegetarian warmth

Family: Oleaceae, egg flower genus

Origin distribution

Originally from the United States of America Mexico. China has introduced cultivation, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Fujian and other provinces and regions are cultivated, the Yangtze River Basin and its northern areas need to be cultivated in greenhouses.

There are about 7 species worldwide. Native to the West Indies and the Americas, now all over the world in tropical and subtropical areas. China's introduction of cultivation of red egg flower, egg flower P. and 1 cultivars. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan are commonly cultivated.

National Flower City Flower

It is the national flower of Laos. It is the city flower of Zhaoqing, Guangdong.

Morphological features

Deciduous shrub or small tree. It is 4~5 meters tall. Branches thick and fleshy, branchlets plump and succulent; leaves large, alternate, pinnate veins; thick papery, more gathered at the top of the branches, leaf veins in the vicinity of the edge of the leaf connected to one side of the veins; flowers several gathered at the top of the branches, the corolla tubular (funnel-shaped), diameter of about 5-6 cm, 5-lobed; five petals rounded, as children's hand-folded paper windmills. The outside is creamy white and the center is bright yellow, resembling an egg white wrapped around an egg yolk, hence the name, and the smell is very fragrant. In addition, there are two colors: red and yellow. Eggplant blossoms in summer and has an elegant fragrance; after the leaves fall, the bare trunk bends naturally, making it very beautiful. It is suitable for planting in gardens and meadows, and can also be grown in pots. The flowers are fragrant and can be used as a spice, or dried for making beverages, or for medicinal purposes.

Flowering May to October. The fruit is a double follicle; the seeds are numerous, with membranous wings at the tip, without seed hairs.

Growth habit

Happy with high temperature and humidity, sunny and well-drained environment. Strong nature, can tolerate drought, but fear of cold, avoid flooding, like acidic soil, but also alkaline. Cultivation of deep fertile, well-permeable, organic matter-rich acidic sandy loam soil is preferred. Adaptive temperature of 23 ℃ to 30 ℃, summer can withstand extreme high temperatures of 40 ℃, the temperature is below 15 ℃ below, the plant began to fall dormant until the next year around April. The leaves are susceptible to hornblotch disease, powdery mildew, and mesquite damage.

Propagation

Cuttings or pressure propagation, very easy to survive.

Use

In Xishuangbanna and some countries in Southeast Asia, the egg flower is widely planted in Buddhist monasteries as one of the "five trees and six flowers", so it is also known as the "Temple Tree" or "Pagoda Tree". "Eggplant is a passionate flower of Xishuangbanna. Egg flower is the best specialties for the enthusiastic Dai people in Xishuangbanna to entertain their guests. In the tropical tourist destination of Hawaii, people like to pick down the egg flower strung into a lei as a decorative item to wear, so the egg flower is also a holiday symbol of Hawaii.

Eggplant blossoms in summer, fragrant and elegant; after the leaves fall, the bare trunk bends naturally, its shape is very beautiful. It is suitable for planting in gardens, meadows, or in pots. The flowers are fragrant and can be used as a spice, or dried for making beverages and medicines, and have the effect of removing dampness. The wood is white, light and soft, and can be used to make musical instruments, tableware or furniture.