I see you are in Zone 9. You will probably struggle
keeping your plumeria from cold damage.
Good luck!!
Randy in Savannah z8b

Hi David
Remember even though you are in zone 9 this is still dormacy..even though the temps are warm. Don't put your plants in the ground yet..not until March or April, depending where you are. We could still hit wet cold spells
Karen b

I'm on Galveston bay and my house faces south.Although the weather has been freezing in the towns north of Houston we have not had a single drop below 34 here.Our weather patterns have changed to warmer temps.

I would wait until spring to plant anything. You can plant them pretty close together as long as it's not permanent, which I wouldnt suggest in zone 9. In the fall, when they go dormant, you can dig them up and bareroot them inside to protect from freeze or cold damage. Then plant them up again in the spring. Check out how BradsBuds and blooms does it and he's in Florida. Click on ALL the pics to get the idea
http://bradsbudsandblooms.com/overwintering.php

Hi,
I thought So. CA was only zone 9..did not realize that it was also down south...good luck on on the cool temps now, pray no freezing.
Karen B

Davidj,

Plumerias can grow as big as a Volkswagon, so if you are planning on planting them permanently you may want to keep that in mind. :)

Brighty

Hi Brighty.
As big as a volkswagon? Gosh hope not. ha Now I am worried. ha
Karen B

I have been growing 3 plumerias for about 2 years. They are approx 7 feet tall and across. They look bare at the bottom and I was thinking of planting a shorter plumeria near it. Is this a bad idea?

In reality 10 feet apart. You can grow them 3-5 feet apart in a hedge but eventually these are trees and become trees. It just takes 30=50 years to get to trees.
Bud's trees (Guillot's sunset, Saigon Moon, Jeannie Moragne):

I just put 3 in the ground spaced out 2 feet apart. I had them at 3 feet but they looked so sad and lonely so I moved them closer. I know they will eventually get huge but I'll deal with that when the time comes. But for now they still have to look somewhat presentable in the front of the house. So I did what I had to do.

I'll post some pics in my other thread later. :)

David,
Beachplant is also in Galveston. She would be the best advice giver for dealing with your climate. i think you will be OK to leave in ground year round (with a frost blanket handy). From what she has told me she hasn't brought hers inside in quite some time.

As far as planting distances I would defer to the 10 feet apart rule and would not put it any closer to the house than 5 feet.

Distace Apart frangapanni