The History of Frangipani (Plumeria)
Plumeria—often called frangipani—is one of the most iconic tropical flowers in the world. The plant is native to the Caribbean, Central America, and parts of Mexico, where it grew wild long before it was discovered by Western botanists. Its scientific name, *Plumeria*, honors French botanist Charles Plumier, who formally described the plant in the late 1600s during his explorations of the Americas.
The name “frangipani,” however, has a completely different origin. It traces back to an Italian noble family, the Frangipani princes, who created a popular almond-scented perfume used to scent gloves in the 16th century. When Europeans later encountered *Plumeria*—a flower with a naturally sweet, creamy fragrance reminiscent of that perfume—they began calling the plant “frangipani.” Even though the two were unrelated, the name has remained ever since.