Native to Brazil, Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.) is a stunning tropical plant that thrives in warm weather, making it perfect for adding season-long color to sunny patios or decks.
While it’s treated as an annual in many regions, it’s a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.1 If you live in a cooler climate, you can still enjoy this vibrant plant by bringing it indoors during the winter months.
Here’s what you need to know about the plant so that it flourishes wherever you are.
Where & How to Plant Mandevilla
When planting Mandevilla, the first thing to consider is where to place it. These plants love warm, sunny spots but prefer some shade during the hottest part of the day.
If you’re planting it in the ground, choose well-draining soil so the roots don’t become waterlogged. You can also plant Mandevilla in a pot so you can bring the plant inside when it gets cold. Make sure the pot has drainage holes and use rich soil that holds moisture but still drains well.
Whether in the ground or a pot, give Mandevilla something to climb, like a trellis or a fence. This vine will grow up and around it, creating beautiful flowers throughout the season.
Caring for Your Mandevilla
Caring for a Mandevilla plant is pretty easy once you know what it needs. First, make sure it gets plenty of sunlight, but avoid the hottest midday sun, as too much direct sunlight can burn its leaves. Aim for morning sunlight and some shade in the afternoon.
Water your Mandevilla regularly, especially during hot weather. The soil should stay moist, but not too wet—make sure it drains well to avoid soggy roots. In pots, check that there are drainage holes, and empty any water sitting in the saucer.
Fertilize your plant every couple of weeks during its growing season, typically spring and summer, to help it bloom. Use a fertilizer that encourages flowers, like one high in phosphorus.
Mandevilla is a vine, so it will grow tall and spread out. You can train it to grow on a trellis or trim it to keep it the size you want. Also, watch for any yellow leaves or pests like aphids, and treat them right away to keep the plant healthy.
Overwintering a Mandevilla
To overwinter a Mandevilla, you need to protect it from the cold since it is a tropical plant that can’t survive freezing temperatures. If you live in a place where winter gets chilly, here’s what to do:
- Before the cold weather hits, bring your Mandevilla indoors. First, trim it back to make it easier to handle and to help it grow better next season. Cut off any long vines and remove dead or damaged leaves.
- Place the plant in a cool, bright spot inside your home. Make sure to pick a spot where the temperature stays above 50°F (10°C), as Mandevilla doesn’t like the cold.
- Mandevilla doesn’t need as much water during winter, so let the soil dry out a bit between waterings, but don’t let it completely dry out. You don’t need to fertilize it during this time either.
- If leaves start to drop, don’t worry—it’s normal. Once spring arrives and the temperatures warm up, you can move your Mandevilla back outside and start watering and feeding it regularly again.
Propagating Mandevilla
Propagating a Mandevilla plant means growing a new plant from a cutting of an existing one. But before you do this, make sure the variety of Mandevilla isn’t protected by patent laws.
Some newer varieties are patented, which means you can’t legally propagate them without permission. These patents are a way to protect the people who spent years developing new types of plants.
If the plant is patented, it will usually have a patent number or the label “PPAF” (patent pending) on its tag.
If your Mandevilla is an older variety (usually more than 20 years old), it’s safe to propagate. Here’s how you can do it from cuttings:
- Cut a Stem: Find a healthy stem and cut a piece about 4 to 6 inches long. Make sure it has at least a few leaves.
- Remove Lower Leaves: Strip off the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting, leaving the top few leaves intact.
- Dip in Rooting Hormone (Optional): You can dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone to help it grow roots faster, but it’s not necessary.
- Plant the Cutting: Stick the cutting into a small pot filled with moist potting mix. Make sure it’s deep enough so the cutting stands up straight.
- Keep Warm and Humid: Cover the pot with a plastic bag to keep moisture in, and place it in a warm spot with indirect sunlight. Check it regularly and mist the cutting if it looks dry.
In a few weeks, the cutting should start to develop roots. After that, you can plant it in a bigger pot or move it outside when the weather warms up!
Mandevilla vs. Dipladenia
Mandevilla and Dipladenia are very similar plants, and people often confuse them. They are both in the Mandevilla genus and produce beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers. However, there are a few differences between them.
- Growth Habit: Mandevilla is a climbing vine, which means it grows tall and needs something to climb, like a trellis or a fence. It can get quite large and will wind around whatever support you give it. Dipladenia, on the other hand, grows more like a bush. It stays shorter and doesn’t climb as much, making it a better choice for smaller spaces or hanging baskets.
- Leaves: The leaves of a Mandevilla are bigger and have a rough texture. Dipladenia leaves are smaller, smoother, and often have a glossy look.
- Flowers: Both plants have similar flowers, but Dipladenia flowers tend to point downward more, while Mandevilla flowers face outward or upward. The colors of the flowers are also very similar, with shades of pink, red, and white being common for both plants.
In short, if you want a plant that climbs, go with Mandevilla. If you prefer a more compact, bushy plant, Dipladenia might be the better choice.
Varieties of Mandevilla
Here are some common varieties of Mandevilla and Dipladenia plants:
- Mandevilla Sun Parasol Giant White – This variety has large, pure white flowers and climbs easily, making it perfect for trellises or fences. It thrives in warm, sunny spots and blooms all season long.
- Mandevilla Sun Parasol Giant Red Emperor – Known for its striking, deep red flowers, this plant is a fast-growing vine that adds bold color to gardens or patios. It enjoys plenty of sunlight and climbs beautifully.
- Mandevilla Summer Romance Double Pink – This variety features beautiful, double-pink flowers that look like they have extra layers of petals. It’s a climbing plant that thrives in sunny spots, making it perfect for brightening up trellises or garden walls.
- Mandevilla Sun Parasol Bluephoria – With soft blueish-purple flowers, this variety is unique and brings a calming color to gardens. Like other Mandevillas, it grows best in full sun and can climb or be used in pots.
Dipladenia Varieties
- Dipladenia Tropica Coral Orange Sunrise – This plant has beautiful coral-orange flowers that stand out, and it grows in a bushy, compact shape. It’s perfect for pots or garden beds and loves sunny spots.
- Dipladenia Tropica Grande Citrine Improved – Featuring bright yellow flowers, this variety brings a cheerful look to any garden or patio. It grows well in containers and thrives in warm, sunny conditions.
These varieties are loved for their colorful, long-lasting blooms and can be grown in pots or gardens, depending on their growth habits.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.