Carol Cloud Bailey
Family
Apocynaceae
Botanical Name
ALLAMANDA blanchetii
Plant Common Name
Purple Allamanda
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
A large, evergreen climber native to the tropical areas of Central and South America; purple allamanda is a striking addition to any frost-free landscape.
Pretty violet-shaded flowers are trumpet-shaped, very showy and appear all year in consistently warm climates. This vine has thin, arching, twining woody branches. The bark is brown, furrowed on mature stems and yellow-green on younger branches. These emit a milky irritating sap when broken. The leaves are elliptical in shape, slightly fuzzy, green to yellow-green and appear opposite to one another on the stems. The fruits are spiny seed capsules.
In temperate regions, allamanda may be grown outdoors in containers during the summer months and brought into a greenhouse or conservatory to over-winter. They require full sun and fertile, well-drained, acidic soil for best growth. Though somewhat drought tolerant, they look and grow best with evenly moist conditions. They are heavy feeders and this selection grows best when grafted onto the roots of Allamanda cathartica. Whether grown as a vine or trained as a shrub, purple allamanda makes a wonderful, ever-blooming specimen plant. Use it to impart a tropical feeling in frost-free landscapes and container gardens.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 10
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 15
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tender Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
6'-10' / 1.8m - 3.0m
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Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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Native To
Central America, South America
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Vining/Climbing
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Purple, Lavender
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Fruit Color
Green, Purple
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green, Dark Green
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Bark Color
Green, Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Hanging Basket, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical, Vine
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Sometimes
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Attracts
Hummingbirds
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Self-Sowing
No
