Evergreen leaves and a long succession of pink to red flowers carry these tropical American vines from early summer into autumn, climbing ten feet up a lattice or spilling from a hanging pot. Mandevilla, whose bushier forms are sold as dipladenia, asks only warmth and bright light out of scorching sun; give it that and it flowers for months.
| Name | Mandevilla species |
|---|---|
| Family | Apocynaceae or dogbane |
| Type | Shrub, climbing vine |
| Height | 10 feet long or tall (3 metres) |
| Exposure | Well-lit |
| Soil | Well-drained |
| Flowering | Early summer to mid-autumn |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
Care for both Mandevilla and Dipladenia is almost identical. From planting to pruning and including watering, they should give you magnificent flowers in summer!
Dipladenia is now recognised as a group within Mandevilla, so care is almost identical, but the two behave very differently in the garden. This table sets out the differences that decide where each one belongs.
| Feature | Mandevilla | Dipladenia |
|---|---|---|
| Bearing | Reaches upwards and needs support | Falls over and crawls down; holds a bush shape unstaked |
| Branching | Grows further and longer; needs pinching to branch out | Bushier, shrub-like, branches out naturally |
| Leaves | Broader, lighter green | Somewhat narrower and deeper green |
| Flower size | Larger | Smaller |
| Flower colour | Fewer colours, mostly pink-red tones | Larger range of colours |
| Best use | Walls, lattices, trees or poles | Suspensions, elevated pots and garden boxes |
Outdoors the two are complementary: let mandevilla climb and let dipladenia dangle.
These plants can be grown outdoors, but they’re most often found indoors in pots.
Indeed, the most hardy varieties will just barely survive light frost. They will be happy to spend summer months outdoors, but must be brought inside for the winter in most areas.
When grown in containers, it is advised to repot every 1 or 2 years, in spring.
Temperatures of at least 68°F (20°C) are required for this plant to survive.
When growing directly in the ground, temperatures must be high in both summer and winter. Planting is in spring.
To boost flower-bearing, remove all wilted flowers regularly. This will trigger new blooms by reducing fruit formation.
Flowers form on new growth, so spring pruning costs you no blooms.
Cut out dead, thin or tangled stems right back to the base to open the middle of the plant to light and air.
Tie the new mandevilla shoots to the lattice as they lengthen, or they will twine around each other into a knot.
Choose a very well-lit space for your flowering vines, but not in direct sunlight behind a window.
Water regularly but not too much, to avoid suffocating roots.
Finally, bring your growing Mandevilla vine outdoors from May to October to give it fresh air.
When potted, mandevilla and dipladenia need a lot of air moisture. It likes being placed on a bed of constantly moist gravel or clay pebbles. This recreates its moist, native tropical environment.
The usual blooming season for these vines is from March to November.
After blooming, its is best to winterize your plant: place it in a cooler but well-lit room.
Native to the tropical Americas and part of the same family as oleander, this shrub blooms abundantly over a long span of time with beautiful flowers.
Outdoors, these plants will have complementary behaviors:
They will grow best in greenhouses where moisture levels are high, so if you wish to grow them in apartments or indoors, spray their leaves often with soft water.
Formerly thought to be a different species, Dipladenia has now been recognized to be a sub-set or group of sub-species of Mandevilla. Here are tips on Mandevilla vs Dipladenia:
Leaves turn yellow when exposed to the cold or to lack of water.
As for pests, indoors, you’ll only have to deal with scale insects and spider mites.
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Never leave the pot standing in a full saucer, as waterlogged compost rots dipladenia roots and the plant then wilts even though the soil feels wet.
Plenty of healthy leaves but very few flowers usually means too little light or a fertiliser too rich in nitrogen.
Expect some leaf and bud drop when the vine is moved between indoors and outdoors, so shift it to its new spot over a week or two.
Adding flower plant organic fertilizer will enhance blooming. Make your own fertilizer from weeds!
