Newbie Plumeria owner question

[estación seca]

Mandy2705's plant is a Euphorbia. The 5-petal symmetry of any dogbane (Apocynaceae) is obvious from the tiniest bud visible. Plumerias have stout, upright inflorescences with multiple buds held in a flat, compound corymb facing the sky. Madagascar Euphorbias like this (ankarensis, leuconeura, viguierii) have cyathia enveloped by 2 bracts and one to few cyathia on a peduncle dangling down - like this one.

This Euphorbia also looks as though the upper leaf surface might be minutely furry. That is not seen on a Plumeria. That would be a diagnostic criterion, but I'm not familiar enough with all the Euphorbias like this to get a closer ID.

This is all important because such Euphorbias are even less tolerant of low temperatures, and being cool and wet, than are Plumerias. In a cold-winter climate like Colorado Springs, this plant will require warmer winter temperatures than a Plumeria. Maybe now that I'm keeping my sunroom at 60 F / 16C in the winter I can grow this kind of Euphorbia. They died at 40 F / 5C.

And it is less sun-tolerant than a Plumeria. I can grow Plumerias outside in full sun in Phoenix. These Euphorbias would be burned. They grow fine in bright shade.

[Mandy2705]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Mandy2705's plant is a Euphorbia. The 5-petal symmetry of any dogbane (Apocynaceae) is obvious from the tiniest bud visible. Plumerias have stout, upright inflorescences with multiple buds held in a flat, compound corymb facing the sky. Madagascar Euphorbias like this (ankarensis, leuconeura, viguierii) have cyathia enveloped by 2 bracts and one to few cyathia on a peduncle dangling down - like this one.



This Euphorbia also looks as though the upper leaf surface might be minutely furry. That is not seen on a Plumeria. That would be a diagnostic criterion, but I'm not familiar enough with all the Euphorbias like this to get a closer ID.



This is all important because such Euphorbias are even less tolerant of low temperatures, and being cool and wet, than are Plumerias. In a cold-winter climate like Colorado Springs, this plant will require warmer winter temperatures than a Plumeria. Maybe now that I'm keeping my sunroom at 60 F / 16C in the winter I can grow this kind of Euphorbia. They died at 40 F / 5C.



And it is less sun-tolerant than a Plumeria. I can grow Plumerias outside in full sun in Phoenix. These Euphorbias would be burned. They grow fine in bright shade.

Whoa I'm glad you told me this...this guy would have gone in direct sun come next spring 😬


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The 5-petal symmetry of any dogbane (Apocynaceae) is obvious from the tiniest bud visible. Plumerias have stout, upright inflorescences with multiple buds held in a flat, compound corymb facing the sky.

I totally agree with this, never the less this post has evolved into an exciting wait and see.
When my wife was pregnant and we went to our first 3D imaging appointment, the radiologist asked what we wanted the baby to be. She said boy, I said girl. The radiologist said, no, you are both wrong. You want the baby to be HEALTHY!! Anything else does not matter. Well, lesson learned and here we are today hoping for healthy blooms, and seeds to share??

[u bada]

Looks like a plumeria to me, but yes the flower placement is super off... hopefully when it blooms you can post a pic?

meanwhile, look at that paph on the back counter! what a cutie!

[Leafmite]

Whatever it is, it is a very nice plant!

[Mandy2705]

Originally Posted by u bada

Looks like a plumeria to me, but yes the flower placement is super off... hopefully when it blooms you can post a pic?



meanwhile, look at that paph on the back counter! what a cutie!

Thank you, I just purchased that paph, it's paph. Nike's Delight '#3' x paph. glaucophyllum 'First', the bloom just fell off yesterday


So I took more pictures today and I am leaning towards euphorbia...man I was hoping it was just a weird Plumeria. My boyfriend really really likes this plant so I may let him take it to work. I will wait till it blooms some more before I let him take it. The bloom has not fully opened but it looks like it has stigma and anther structure inside. I know Plumeria flowers don't have these so visible, like they seem to be here.
And now it seems there are more flowers coming through



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SFLguy]

Looking at the flower bud now, it seems like it isn't the Plumeria normally sold, however i think there are 4 species (?) In cultivation with only one or maybe two being common

[SFLguy]

Woops didn't see that last post, definitely not Plumeria then

[u bada]

yeah, looks like a euphorbia flower forming... also that's the location- around the terminal growth, where flowers form... not sure what species it could be though...