There are these bushes growing alongside the Rotunda lecture hall at school. A scent that is like orange blossoms on speed: tropical, citrusy, sweet. Amazing. And little red fruits that look like plums but narrower and with points (and, well, on the bush in October while the thing is also blooming). For a long time I thought they were some sort of mock orange hybrid, but they do not match any mock orange in any book I have or online. Anybody have any ideas?
That's plumeria! they use it in Hawaii for making leis. If you take the flowers off carefully you can see they are perfect for threading on string.
Plumeria! Of course! But too bad, because it will not in any way thrive in the Bay Area. Maybe I can grow it in the greenhouse or something.
(delurking)
Although I've been sure that shrub is not plumeria (which has very distinct branches that look like sausages to me), I've not had any other ideas up to now, not being a Californian. But how about Carissa macrocarpa?
Sweetgum I believe you are right. The fruits are certainly dead on. And I hadn't looked for pictures of whole plumeria before; those shrubs aren't the right shape.
It's at times like this when I really miss being on a campus where all the plants are labelled.
(Unfortunately, this appears to be yet another heat-loving plant that will Fail To Thrive in our coastal temps in Alameda, but at least I can enjoy it while I'm in school.)