Mandevilla vines can be found throughout the Americas in tropical and subtropical regions.
Consisting of nearly 200 species, the Mandevilla genus is best suited for USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11 with a vine growing up to 20’ feet long. In northern climates they are grown as annuals.
They’re named after British gardener and diplomat Henry Mandeville and were first described as benign a genus in 1840.
Mandevilla Uses
Sometimes referred to as Chilean jasmine or rock trumpet, these plants are wonderful additions to both the garden and indoor settings.
They’re usually trained on trellises or similar structures, providing a wall of green with wonderful blooms of pink, red, yellow, or white.
The taller Mandevillas are excellent climbers, but the smaller ones tend to form a more clumping habit unless trained to climb up a trellis.
These latter examples are often referred to as Dipladenias and are excellent container plants.
Mandevilla Types
With nearly 200 different species, as well as numerous hybrids and cultivars, it can be difficult to know which plant to get first.
The following are the most popular Mandevilla plants and are all great introductions to these wonderful flowering plants.
Dipladenia Plant
You might have a little trouble finding this plant if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
That’s because Dipladenia is actually the former genus name for the smaller, shrublike Mandevilla vine.
They were long considered to be a separate genus until recently, and the old name remains a common nickname for any smaller Mandevilla plant.
Dipladenias tend to be shorter, bushier, and the stems generally droop.
They also have slightly smaller flowers with more variation than the vining type, which often has red flowers.
The foliage is shorter and more heart-shaped than their vining kin as well.
However, the care for Dipladenias is virtually identical to that of traditional Mandevilla.
Mandevilla ‘Alice Du Pont’
Bearing dark green, wrinkled leaves and 4” inch wide flowers bearing five-round red petals and a yellow throat, ‘Alice Du Pont’ is perhaps one of the most famous Mandevilla cultivars.
It’s hardy enough to handle winter weather as cold as zone 9.
Outdoors, it can climb to an impressive 20’ feet tall, but when planted in a pot, it will remain a far more manageable 5’ feet in height.
Mandevilla jamesonii
While not one of the more popular species out there, you can feel good about owning this native of Ecuador.
Listed as critically threatened, Mandevilla jamesonii can be difficult to find but is available for purchase.
Much like ‘Alice Du Pont’, this plant will only grow to about 5’ feet in a container and will need a trellis to climb.
This plant won’t stand out from other species, but bringing one home can help prevent this plant from going extinct.
Mandevilla laxa
Laxa produces beautiful 3” inch wide white flowers with a slightly yellow throat.
Up to 15 of these wonderful smelling flowers can appear per stem, and outdoor specimens will reach 20’ feet tall with the proper support, but will be much smaller if grown indoors in a container.
Awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, this wonderful Mandevilla isn’t as cold hardy as some other species and is usually grown in greenhouses or protected by glass.
However, it makes for a wonderful addition to your home when placed in a bright spot.
Mandevilla sanderi
When you want a Mandevilla with personality, it doesn’t get much better than this former Dipladenia.
While growing to a shorter 15’ feet outdoors, this native of Rio de Janeiro makes up for its height with one of the fastest growing speeds of any Mandevilla.
The shrub has 2 ½” inch dark green leaves and attractive red flowers with yellow stamens.
It’s not frost tolerant, but can handle coastal conditions and is somewhat drought tolerant.
Mandevilla splendens
This winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, this Rio de Janeiro native is another former Dipladenia.
It grows to a modest 10’ feet tall and has wide elliptical leaves about 8” inches long.
The rose pink flowers have a yellow throat and appear near the top of the plant.
It doesn’t like frost, but does well as a container plant brought outdoors during the summer months.
Mandevilla Plants Interesting Introductions
- White Delight has soft stems and pretty, bright white flowers. Its vines attain a length of 12′ feet, but this plant is very accommodating when pruned to a smaller size and shape.
- Stars and Stripes boast red blooms with white stripes. Its leaves are large and glossy, and its vines can attain a length of 12′ feet.
- Summer Snow’s flowers are very large and a dazzling white offset by glossy, dark green leaves.
- Red Riding Hood produces impressive deep red flowers.
- Ruby Star’s flowers are an exceptionally deep red shade.
Yellow Delight (Pentalinon luteum) is not a true Mandevilla, but it is a good imposter. It’s a low-growing shrub with jaunty yellow flowers that do very well as a hanging basket plant.
Quick Mandevilla Care Tips
Mandevilla (man-duh-VIL-luh SPLEN-denz)
Common Name: Chilean Jasmine, Rocktrumpet
Rose-colored flowers are shaped like trumpets (rocktrumpet) on this handsome vine, and they are 3″ or more in diameter.
Its summer and early fall flowers are accented by leathery green leaves. It will climb as well as trail in pots. You can train Mandevilla to climb up a 4’ foot trellis.
Give it a hanging basket in a sunny window if you prefer it long and trailing.
Light: Give plants very high light indoors (near sunny south or east window). Outdoors give them direct sunlight.
Temperature: 65° to 80° degrees Fahrenheit (18° to 27°C). Plants can tolerate 35° degrees Fahrenheit (2°C) without damage.
Water: Allow the surface of the potting soil to dry out between waterings.
Humidity: High (40% or more if possible).
Fertilization: Apply monthly when the plant is in its active growing season; otherwise, apply every two months.
Propagation: Stem cuttings of 4” to 6” inches (10 to 15 cm) with 4 or more leaves.
Special Care: When the plant starts to grow too many stems, repot the plant in a larger pot in a potting mix with good drainage containing at least 50% organic matter.
Common Insect Pests Problems: Look carefully at the leaf nodes and axils for infestation of mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies, and red spider mites. If you find any, spray neem oil or insecticidal soap.