Hi All
Do any of you grow this? I know it's not hardy in my zone, 7b / 8a. I have an arbor in full sun. Will this grow here? Would I treat it like a tropical hibiscus? Any variety recommendations?
Thank you
cynthia
Mandevilla Vine
I had two when I used to live in Zone 9b. In your area, you would have to treat as an annual or place it in a large pot and take it indoors to overwinter. "Alice du Pont" or similar varieties produce larger flowers than "Red Velvet", but the latter has pinkish-red flowers.
Veronica
I don't know about other people's experiences, but my mandevilla which is growing in a conmtainer has done better in morning sun and afternoon filter shade. I lop it off in the winter to about 1.5 feet and put it in my greenhouse. It grew very fast and started to twirl around my other plants 2 months ago. I had to find ways to keep it under control until I could place it back outside. Has anyone grown it in full sun? I have never tried it in full sun. Cuttings root very easily in just water.
I dig up hibiscus and bring them in. Do these need as much water? Would one cover an arbor in one season?
Thanks all
cynthia
They grow very fast. I would plant one on each side of the arbor if the arbor is large.
I work at TCU and our groundskeepers grow them in big containers around the fountain area during the summer and they seem to thrive in the sun... although there are a couple of trees in the area that shelters them slightly from the afternnoon sun.. but it is a filtered shelter...
loveshercowdog, I have to water my hibiscus plants more than my mandeviila; however, my hibiscus receive mostly full sun so their containers dry out faster.
joskie, thanks for the information. I have 2 rooted mandevilla cuttings and one containerd plant. I think I will try the cuttings in an area that receives a lot of sun and see how they do. I know that they do not have as many blooms in total shade.
Hazel, I have a mandevilla that I was hoping to put in front of the porch railing. It won't get full sun though. Right now because it gets no shade from the pecan tree, it gets sun til about 2 pm. But laterin the year it'll get filtered sun til 10 then sun til 2 then filtered sun again. I'm going to leave it in a pot, so I can move it if it doesn't work. Is there anything you can think of that would be a better choice. There's not enough room for a big vine like a jasmin.
Mary Lee
Actuaally, that might be a perfect place for your Mandevillea. I had mine under an oak tree last year and it did well.
OOOOOh, great! I was really hoping that would work. Those red flowers would really do alot to brighten that spot.
Thanks.
Does this have the sharp spines of it's relative the Bouganvillea?
Hmmmm, well mine doesn't. Mine is the Red Velvet variety. I didn't know they were related. I hope this thing doesn't get as big as my bouganvilla. By mid summer, it's above the eaves of the house.
Mary Lee
Mary,
I don't know if it grows the same size. I love the Bouganvillea but didn't realize I'd lose it in the frost of my zone. I will try it again but only by pot, not trellised as it was. After they were planted though a nursery in Schultz TX told me Bouganvillea like to be root bound (in a pot) which sure makes it easier on us not in the right zones! I was told you can trim a bouganvillea for size but OUCH, at least it'd be much easier on a trellis than in big bush form! I've heard horror stories. =)
I was so ignorant when I bought mine, once huge of course it developes sharper and thicker spines. I thought I'd outsmart the plant (DOH!) and snipe the spines off. Yeah....took me a season to figure out why it wasn't blooming?!?!?! Hehe.
Right after that I was led to Dave's Garden. Ever so grateful!
My bouganvilla is in the ground on the east side of the house. It used to be in a pot, but it didn't look happy. Whether it survives winter or not I think depends on the variety. I don't know what kind I have, but I've heard Barbara Karst is a really hardy variety. The leaves are very smooth and fairly dark green. The flowers are hot pink.
alamoaimee, your bougainbillea will probably come back out when it warms up. Cut it down to about 8 inches from the ground. I don't think it was cold enough to totally kill it. Once it comes up, it will grow really fast. Or, because some of the branches may look dead, but they really aren't, just keep pruning them until you see some green right under the bark. If none of them have any green, just prune it back to the 8 inches. I severely cut back the ones I have in containers. The one containered bougainvillea that I cut back in the fall and did not protect from the freezes is is a type that the leaves will not bud back out until it is much warmer than it has been. The thorns are a real pain, aren't they!
Mine always comes back from right at the base of the plant - not from the old branches.
Mary Lee
Thanks again to all
I happened to find Mandevilla Crimson Sun Parasol at Lowe's for $15. That was quite a deal compared to other places, so if you're looking for it, check there. Now I have to move 2 roses.
smiles
c
Wow, that must have been a big one to cost that much! Well, I hope it was.
BTW my bouganvilla still has not started growing yet, but it's always really late. It doesn't do anything until the verbena in front of it starts blooming and it just started getting leaves about 1 week ago. Once it starts though it's a race to the roof.:)
Mary Lee