Description
A tropical twining vine with deeply veined, whorled leaves and large, trumpet shaped bright yellow flowers. Prickly seed pods follow the flowers with winged seeds that fly about when the pod dries and breaks open. Allamanda is perennial in tropical climates and may be treated as an annual or brought inside during cold weather and replanted after danger of frost. The plant has milky sap and is considered poisonous; all parts are highly cathartic (hence the botanical name). Texture is coarse and leaves are bright to light green; the plant is often pruned and used as a shrub. Some cultivars have been bred for fragrance; a particularly popular one has furry brown buds and darker green leaves than the species.
Location
Native to Brazil and widely distributed in tropical areas.
Culture
Grows well in most soils, but becomes chlorotic in very alkaline
conditions. Train up a trellis, tree, or side of a building where
there is support. Or prune and maintain as a shrub. In areas where
there is seasonal change, keep fairly dry during winter and prune
in spring before growth begins. It may be desirable to prune
annually in any case to control for size.
Light: Sun to light shade. Moisture: Average; must be well drained. Hardiness: USDA Zones 9-11. Use as a summer annual in
zones with freezing winters (Allamanda will freeze at just 30ºF.). Propagation: Hardwood or softwood cuttings in warm weather.
Usage
Allamandas are breathtaking when in the full glory of their bloom.
Plant them where they will be as conspicuous as possible. In the
tropics, they are often pruned and maintained as blooming hedge
plants. They can be allowed to grow up slender trees, where they
make a profusion of blooms at the top and on the way up.
Features
Large, 3"-4" funnel shaped yellow flowers; twining growth; glossy,
leathery leaves make this vine a favorite. Lately some new varieties have appeared, that's 'Cream' in the photograph (above).
hc 12/08/97; updated - js 1/2/99
Copyright 1996 - 2008
Floridata.com LC
Tallahassee, Florida USA
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Description
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