We are growing Mandevilla in pots to create a statement around the doorway. Mandevilla or Mexican love vine are the more common names. There are many varieties to choose from and we’re going with the brazilian jasmine, a species of the Rocktrumpet Mandevillia.
Mandevillia can easily be mistaken as a Dipladenia. So the best way to identify it is by the yellow center throat and longer green leaves. It should be noted that it’s available in shades of pink, red, yellow, white and the newer shade of apricot.
Photo: Andie Cumber
How To Make Your Mandevilla Climb
Given that the mandevilla is a vine plant, it can climb upward if given the right support. However, there are some new varieties like the summervilla mandevilla that grow into bushy type mounds which are perfect for the ground.
Of course, if you are growing mandevilla in pots, a good option to encourage the vines to climb is use a trellis. I love this modern circle wall trellis. It has three sections, each a different size. And the best part, is you have the ability to space the sections apart from one another if you want the mandevilla to climb around a doorway. Another option is to use a teepee. Or, if you want to save some coins, you can diy your own teepee with 3 bamboo poles and a steak connector. In the meantime check out gardeners.com, if you need more trellis inspiration!
If you want to train your mandevilla to climb, you’ll need to affix it to your designated support system with either soft plant ties or florist wire. In addition, the best way to encourage growth is to make sure your ties are secured loosely around the vines.
Brazilian Jasmine aka Mandevilla, Rock trumpet, Chilean jasmine, or Mexican love vine
Botanical Name & Family: Mandevilla sanderi from the Apocynaceae family
Other Mandevilla Species: Mandevilla x amabilis (Alice du Pont), Mandevilla Splendens (Rock Trumpet), Mandevilla boliviensis (White Mandevilla) , Mandevilla Sunmandecrim (Sun Parasol), Mandevilla Laxa (Chilean jasmine)
How to care for Mandevilla:
- Light: Place in full to partial sun.
- Benefits: Attracts Hummingbirds, can extract essential oils,
- Soil: Use a fast draining potting soil with one part builder’s sand. Maintain pH between 6.6 – 7.5.
- Watering: At least once a week when the first inch of topsoil is dry. It is more dormant in the winter so water only twice a month.
- Fertilizer: High Phosphorus fertilizer every two weeks to see maximum flowering during the growing season.
- Repotting: Use pots with drainage holes to avoid root rot and repot every 1-2 years in early spring.
- Toxicity: It’s not classified as toxic however if ingested your pet may experience nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. It also produces a milky sap that can cause skin irritations. The good news is most pets don’t like the flavor of this plant so odds are pretty good that they won’t consume enough to cause any concern.
- How big will it grow: Can grow up to 30 feet high but averages about 10-15 feet.
- Propagating: Cut 3 inches of a tip or side shoot. Remove all but the top two leaves. Dip the cutting into a root hormone. Or, make your own root hormone by boiling 1 tablespoon of honey in two cups of water. After the cutting has been treated, stick it in a nursery pot filled with sandy peat moss until roots begin to form, then repot.
- Temperature: It doesn’t like temperatures below 40°F and if you want to see blooms it requires a minimum of 60°F.
- Handling: If you live in an area where temps drop below 40°F you will have to treat this plant like a perennial since it is frost sensitive. So that means you will lose it to the frost if you don’t bring it indoors to survive the winter months.
Photo: Yardzen
Try A Professional Landscaper
I can attest that I’m no landscape designer, but if you want your outdoor space to rock then leave the design work to the professionals. And that is exactly what we did. We chose to secure the services of Yardzen. Yardzen is a company that comes equip with a landscape designer and horticulturist. You provide your plot plan, budget, vision and plant preference and they in turn will work their magic. They’ll present you with a plan accompanied with realistic photos and a complete list of plants used. You have the option to secure someone to implement the plans through them or you can take the plans to someone locally.
