The Allamanda plant is one of the groups of semi-climbing, upright-growing plants becoming increasingly popular nowadays, especially in tropical locations.
The most popular is Allamanda cathartica (al-uh-MAN-da kath-AR-tick-uh) plant. They can also become an evergreen shrub-like plant with pruning.
This woody vine is native to northern South America and grows vigorously in full sun or semi-shade, even in poor soil.
A growing Allamanda climbs and grows rapidly, making it a good vine for use over pergolas or on structures with some horizontal support.
The variety Allamanda cathartica var. hendersonii has larger flowers with wider petals.
Allamanda Plant Quick Care Tips
- Botanical Name: Allamanda cathartica
- Common Name(s): Allamanda Golden Trumpet Bush, Yellow Allamanda
- Synonyms: Allamanda neriifolia, Allamanda hendersonii
- Family & Origin: Apocynaceae family, native to Northern South America
- Growability: Easy to grow
- Grow Zone: USDA zones 9-11
- Size: Grows up to 10-15 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide
- Flowering: Blooms in summer and fall with large, bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Humidity: Tolerates low humidity
- Temperature: Prefers warm temperatures between 60-70°F
- Soil: Well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5
- Water: Water regularly, keeping soil moist but not waterlogged
- Fertilizer: Fertilize every 2-3 weeks during growing season with a balanced fertilizer
- Pests & Diseases: Susceptible to spider mites, whiteflies, and mealybugs. Can also be affected by root rot and leaf spot.
- Propagation: Propagated through stem cuttings or layering
- Plant Uses: Used as a hedge, screen, or specimen plant in the landscape. Also suitable for container gardening.
Growing Yellow Allamanda Flowers and Plants
Allamanda cathartica is a strong vine plant or woody climber with large yellow flowers, shiny deep green, leathery, 2-4 inch evergreen leaves, and large clear yellow bell-like flowers with a light brown throat.
Flowers and Fragrance
The bell-shaped golden yellow flowers of the allamanda are very fragrant and appear in summer can reach 4″-5″ inches across. Golden trumpet flowers can last until late November and into December in the South.
Allamanda Bush Care
Overall, the bush Allamanda vine perfectly combines the beauty of its whorled leaves, trumpet-shaped flowers, and twining growth to make them garden favorites.
Light and Temperature
In its native habitat, new shoots of the tropical shrub Allamanda find their way to the treetops to get all the full sun they can while keeping the dark green leaves protected in semi-shade.
This drought-tolerant plant loves the sun and needs lots of sunshine. If possible, mimic nature and shade the plant, but give the tips lots of sunshine.
If possible, keep temperatures and humidity high. It thrives in warm conditions with day temperatures of 70˚ degrees Fahrenheit or higher and night temperatures of 60˚ to 65˚ degrees Fahrenheit.
Watering Your Allamanda & Fertilizing
When in full growth season, in high temperatures and humidity, Allamanda requires lots of water.
During its flowering period, pay attention to the plant’s water use. Very often, it requires some extra water to avoid flower loss.
Moreover, it’s important to maintain the high moisture levels the plant needs by regularly spraying the leaves with soft water or providing a bird bath and a nearby fountain.
Fertilizing Allamanda cathartica is best with liquid water-soluble plant food once every two weeks during active growth.
Do not give too much fertilizer to avoid overcrowding of foliage and smaller flowers.
Types Of Soil and Planting
As with many vines, Allamandas like good, rich soil for healthy plant growth. If grown in a container, transplant every two years.
If the plant is large, do not step up to a bigger gallon pot, but prune the roots instead and replace them with a rich potting mix.
Providing a support structure with a trellis allows the plant to “show off” to its fullest. The photo at the right is of Allamanda ‘Golden Trumpet vine,’ one popular variety of Allamanda plants.
However, ensure to cover your Allamanda with a shade veil for 2 to 3 weeks after planting to prevent transplant shock, especially if the weather is hot.
Bush Allamanda is popularly used as an ornamental plant. They can be grown in sheltered areas as well as indoors – with care – as potted plants.
In the tropics, Allamandas are often pruned and used as blooming hedge plants. This tropical plant’s growth can be controlled so that it becomes slender trees crowned with glorious blooms at the top portion of the plant.
Growing Allamanda Bush – Spectacular in Greenhouses or Sun Rooms
These tender tropical evergreen climbers make a breathtaking spectacle in Northern greenhouses or sunrooms.
Glossy green leaves are mostly large, accompanied by trumpet-shaped flowers that come in several colors, always brilliant. Even the red-brown buds are appealing.
The allamandas’ long, trainable stems (tendrils) admit them to classification as vining plants. But the growth is lax and pliable only when it is young and becomes brittle at maturity.
Train some young shoots gently down on established plants to cover what might be a bare base. Any support (like a trellis) should be sturdy and lasting for this vigorous climbing vine.
Allamandas, under ideal conditions, can grow rapidly and get out of control, making pruning essential.
Allamanda plants can become shrubs with pruning. It also helps set boundaries for plant growth.
It’s important to remember when pruning Allamandas that the blooms appear in clusters at the tip of new shoots.
Pruning or cutting back new shoots will affect the blooming of the plant. Prune carefully and selectively.
Spring (later March or early April) or at the end of winter is the best time to prune before the growing season begins. You may also prune your plant before spring growth.
Unless you plan on training the vines on a trellis or along a lattice, the long vines or shoots can be pruned back.
Older, more mature plants should not be cut back too hard.
Golden Trumpet Allamanda In The Southern Garden
In Southern gardens, the allamanda is used in garden design in a number of ways:
- As accent or specimen in landscape or border
- Trained or espaliered against fence or wall
- Growing on all kinds of garden structures
- Corner accent or Single specimen accent
- A showy hedge or for privacy plant screening
In any climate, they are brilliant subjects for a showy early spring display in outdoor containers if they can be brought indoors for the winter.
The golden trumpet plants need a ration of full sun, fertilizer, humidity, and moist, well-drained soil during the growing season, and temperatures not less than 55° degrees Fahrenheit.
In the spring, when new growth begins, mature plants are repotted and cut back to ripe or half-ripe wood.
When summer flowering has finished, hold back water almost to the point of wilting the leaves; let the plant rest, and keep the soil fairly dry until early the following year.
Propagate by stem-cuttings of half-ripened wood in spring. For safety’s sake, insert at least two joints in the propagating medium, over bottom heat, or in something like a soda bottle planter.
NOTE: The milky white sap can cause skin irritation, so wear gloves when handling.
Related: Read Is the Allamanda plant poisonous?
Allamanda Pests and Problems
Allamanda Plant is relatively resistant to most diseases and parasites. However, it might still be subject to some occasionally.
Wilting Leaves and Dropping Shoots – This is a sign of a lack of water. Ensure the plant receives enough water, especially during warm, dry times of the year.
If the plant is potted and “drys out,” set the pot in a bucket of water to allow the soil to “soak up” the media thoroughly.
Plumeria Caterpillars – Pseudosphinx tetrio species, with common names frangipani hornworm and rasta caterpillar, feeds and pupates on the leaves of Apocynaceae plants, including those of Allamanda shrubs.
As they reproduce fast, an infestation can quickly result in defoliation.
Apart from infesting oleander shrubs, some gardeners experience oleander caterpillar infestation in their Allamanda plants.
Spider Mites – These are more common when growing common Allamanda on a sun porch or greenhouse. Pale-looking foliage and cobwebs on the underside of leaves. Leaves begin to drop. Try treating with a miticide.
Brownish Spots / Stunted Growth – Look for aphids on tender growth. You will notice an infestation of it when leaves begin to curl and turn brown. Use a natural insecticide, neem oil for plants, or other controls for aphids.
Other insect pests that attack this plant include whiteflies and scales.
Buying Tips
When buying Allamandas, look for plants with fresh growth and shiny leaves. Check for pests such as aphids on new growth and spider mites on the undersides of leaves.
Difficulty: Not the easiest houseplant to grow indoors – but happy in areas with lots of bright light, like sunrooms or greenhouses, where more ideal conditions exist.
Allamanda Varieties
Allamanda cathartica hendersoni – Golden funnel flowers up to 5″ inches across.
Allamanda cathartica williamsi – Similar yellow flowers with red-brown throats.
Allamanda neriifolia – oleander allamanda – Shrubby or half-clinging to about three feet, with large golden flowers.
Allamanda blanchetti– also known as purple Allamanda. A native to Brazil cultivated as an ornamental plant.
Allamanda schottii ‘Compacta’ – A Dwarf allamanda cultivar selected to withstand the tough summers of Florida and look great throughout!
Allamanda violacea – Slender climber with reddish-purple flowers, usually grafted onto the cathartic stock.
Family: Apocynaceae