What Kind of Plant Is Mandevilla?
Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.), also known as Chilean jasmine, is a tropical vine native to South America. It is native to Argentina and Bolivia, not Chile, and it is not a jasmine. Mandevilla laxa, also known botanically as Mandevilla suaveolens, is the hardiest variety, and the most commonly grown in the United States. It can withstand temperatures as low as 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Grown as an annual in most climate zones, mandevilla is reliably perennial only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11.
Mandevilla is named for Henry Mandeville, a British diplomat and plant explorer who discovered it while serving in Argentina in the early 1800s. It originally was put into the genus Dipladenia (Dipladenia splendens) and is still sometimes sold under that name, but it was reclassified as Mandevilla in the mid-19th century.
Mandevilla is a woody vine that grows to 15 feet tall. Its stems climb by means of twining themselves around a support. A fast grower, it reaches full height the first year in warm climates. It is commonly grown as a houseplant in colder areas. The dark green, leathery leaves of mandevilla can reach 8 inches long and 3 inches wide.
Mandevilla belongs to the dogbane (Apocynaceae) botanical family, which also includes periwinkle vine (Vinca spp.), oleander (Nerium oleander) and hoya vine (Hoya spp.) Members of the family typically exude a milky sap when cut. Mandevilla isn’t in the same botanical family as jasmine, which belongs to the Oleaceae family, but its flowers have a similar, sweet fragrance.
A site in part shade is best for this tropical vine. It needs rich, humusy, well-drained soil and regular watering. It is a heavy feeder and should be fertilized every two weeks with a 10-20-10 or 20-20-20 formula. Indoors, it needs bright, indirect light (no direct sun) and evenly moist soil.
Mandevilla bears clusters of large, showy flowers in bright, deep colors and in pure white. The flowers, which are trumpet-shaped and reach up to 4 inches across, come in red, yellow, pale pink, deep pink and rose pink. Mandevilla produces a heavy flush of bloom in midsummer and then flowers sporadically until fall. The blooms have a mild vanilla fragrance.
Varieties and Cultivars
Cultivars of Mandevilla laxa include “Summer Snow,” which is white, and “Red Riding Hood” and “Scarlet,” which are red. Mandevilla x amoena “Alice du Pont” is a popular indoor cultivar with pink flowers that reaches 7 feet. It is not hardy at temperatures below 60 degrees F, so does not thrive outdoors. Mandevilla boliviensis is another non-hardy variety grown indoors. It has white flowers with yellow eyes and reaches about 12 feet.