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Semi-climbing plants of upright growth habits are becoming more and more popular nowadays. If you are looking for one or several plants belonging to this particular set of characteristics, then choose from the 12 species of Allamanda.

These plants have shiny deep green leaves and large yellow flowers.

Overall, Allamandas perfectly combine the beauty of their whorled leaves, trumpet-shaped flowers, and twining growth, making them everybody’s favorite. The photo at the left shows a close up view of Golden Trumpet, one popular variety of Allamanda plants.

Allamandas are popularly used as ornamental plants. They can be grown in sheltered areas as well as indoors as potted plants.

In the tropics, Allamandas are often pruned and used as blooming hedge plants. Their growth can be controlled so that they become slender trees crowned with their glorious blooms at the top portion of the plant.

Allamanda – Spectacular in Greenhouses or Sun Rooms

Tender tropical evergreen climbers make a breath-taking spectacle in Northern greenhouses or sun rooms. Glossy green leaves are mostly large. Trumpet-shaped flowers come in several colors, always brilliant. Even the red-brown buds are appealing.

The allamandas’ long, trainable stems admit them to classification as vining plants. But the growth is lax and pliable only when it is young, and becomes brittle at maturity.

On established plants, train some young shoots gently down to cover what might be a bare base. Any support should be sturdy and lasting.

Allamanda In The Southern Garden

In Southern gardens the allamandas are used in many ways – as accent or specimen in landscape or border; trained or espaliered against fence or wall; on all kinds of garden structures; and even as a showy hedge. In any climate they are brilliant subjects for showy display in outdoor containers, if they can be brought indoors for the winter.

The plants need a full ration of sun, fertilizer, humidity, and soil moisture during the growing season, and temperatures not less that 55degrees.

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.

Allamanda Varieties

Allamanda cathartica hendersoni – Golden funnel-flowers up to five 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 violacea – Slender climber with reddish-purple flowers, usually grafted onto cathartica stock.

Family: Apocynaceae