P. filifolia not Khao Rampoey (old
Description
Plumeria filifolia is native only to Cuba (possibly the same as P. sericifolia). Flowers are 1.5 inches with separated petals, white with a yellow center, and faintly fragrant. The beauty of the species lies in the simplicity of its slender, propeller-shaped, sweetly scented flowers. In the wild it grows on steep, deeply fissured, razor-sharp karst limestone in semi-deciduous thorn forest, producing bunches of jasmine-scented white flowers. Leaves are very narrow, weeping, grass-green, long, with pointed tips. It is evergreen only in the tropics and subtropics, and cold hardiness outside the subtropics is unknown. It is extremely drought tolerant, comes from a climate of sunny monsoon summers and dry warm winters, and needs humidity to bloom properly. It is very slow growing and sets seed; seedlings are unmistakable but vary in leaflet width and stiffness, habit (erect versus drooping), and flower size. It was first shown to Tex by Luc in 2012 from Michael Ferreira, who had collected it in Cuba about five years earlier. Very few grafts succeed and rooting was unsuccessful until 2015, when Carol achieved it.
Appearance
1.5 inch white flowers with a yellow center; slender, propeller-shaped, separated petals.
Bloom
Produces bunches of jasmine-scented flowers.
Fragrance
Faint jasmine-scented.
Growth & Foliage
Very slow growing. Leaves are very long and narrow, grass-green, weeping, with pointed tips. Evergreen only in the tropics and subtropics. Sets seed; seedlings vary in leaflet width and stiffness, habit, and flower size.
Cultivation Tips
Extremely difficult to root or graft; should be grafted. Extremely drought tolerant. Needs humidity to bloom properly. Cold hardiness outside the subtropics is unknown.
Provenance
Native only to Cuba; may be the same as P. sericifolia. Collected in Cuba around 2007 by Michael Ferreira and imported; first shown by Luc to Tex in 2012. Carol achieved successful rooting in 2015.
Details
Fragrance Strength
faint, shaped sweetly
Anecdotal Notes
Diana
Native to only Cuba. May be the same as P. sericifolia. White with yellow center. 1.5" with separated petals. Faint fragrance. The beauty is the simplicity of its flowers - slender, propeller shaped and sweetly scented. Should be grafted. Leaves: very long and narrow, grass-green, pointed tip. They don't root and they don't graft easily. Tex: Luc first showed me the P. filifolia from Cuba in 2012 from the original importer Michael Ferreira. Collected in Cuba about 5 years before. Very few successful grafts, none rooted. In 2015 Carol was successful. Grows in harsh conditions on deeply fissured, razor sharp karst limestone in semi deciduous thorn forest. Look at the very narrow, weeping leaves. Narrow-leaved species that produces bunches of jasmine-scented white flowers. Evergreen only in the tropics and subtropics but its cold hardiness outside the subtropics remains unknown. In habitat it grows on steep, rocky limestone hillsides with little soil and low water, making it extremely drought tolerant. Note: the native climate is sunny summer with monsoons, and dry warm winters. Very slow growing. Seedlings unmistakably Plumeria filifolia, but they will vary in leaflet width and stiffness, general habit (erect vs. drooping), and flower size. Needs humidity to bloom properly. Sets seed.
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