Friday, 16 December 2011


Hymenosporum flavum is Australian rainforest tree, which is commonly called the native frangipani, because it produces creamy yellow, frangipani-like flowers with a strong, heady fragrance. It is not related to the exotic frangipani (Plumeria). It is an evergreen tree to about 20m tall in cultivation, but larger in its natural habitat. The branches grow in distinct horizontal layers, and the leaves are dark green and glossy with a hairy underside. The strongly scented flowers are whitish cream ageing to deep yellow, followed by pear-shaped woody capsules containing winged seeds.

It grows well in Melbourne and when it flowers in Spring, the street is filled with a delicious smell. This is from a specimen in our front yard.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.


  1. I like how there are so many shades of yellow in that one cluster.

  2. I've never seen this beautiful flower, but I know the plumeria as some varieties of it bloom here in Florida. I am happy that yours too has that wonderful scent.

  3. The perfume from these trees is magical when carried on the night air - Thankfully they seem to thrive in our harsh conditions.

  4. Yes, the flowers resemble the frangipani.They are beautiful.

  5. Gorgeous flowers! All the better that they are fragrant too...

  6. Fancy, flowering streets!
    How incredibly elegant.
    Who takes care of them?
    Seeing these would be one of the main reasons for me to undertake that long journey to your country.

