Allamanda is a tropical, evergreen, perennial vine in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). It is native to Central and South America but is cultivated in warm areas around the world. In temperate regions, they are grown as greenhouse plants or houseplants for their freely produced, brightly coloured, golden yellow flowers that contrast with the shiny dark green leaves. The species epithet is Latin for cathartic, in reference to its purgative effect when ingested. Allamanda forms a sprawling shrub or woody climber that tends to sprawl and twine itself around a support and will need to be tied to a trellis or other support. If grown outdoors in the landscape, the plants should be cut back and overwintered as indoor container plants before the first freeze. Note that, once indoors, the plant requires a site with bright light. Whether indoors or out, the plant does require ample moisture and good drainage. This plant is suitable for butterfly gardens, rain gardens, and drought tolerant gardens. As a container plant it can be trained on a trellis to work as a screen, or it can be an accent or specimen plant on its own. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Wet
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Creeping; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite; Whorled
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are 2 1/2 inches long, 1 1/2 inch wide, opposite, simple, glossy, and leathery. This vigorous climbing plant has leathery evergreen leaves arranged in whorls of 4 at intervals along the stem and bright yellow flowers.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are tubular, yellow, and in clusters at ends of branches from summer to fall. Flowers up to around 3 1/2 inches are held in groups of 12 on short branches at the ends of shoots or in the leaf axils.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit detail
Winged seeds inside prickly pods.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The stems twine to 19 feet or more and contain milky sap.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Tropical America, and Brazil
Distribution
Central America, India, Asia
Attracts
Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Follicle
Uses (ethnobotany)
Leaves and roots are used as a laxative and emetic in traditional medicine, but large doses are toxic.
Poisonous through: Ingestion, dermatitis. Sap causes skin and eye irritation. TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN; SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Symptoms may include fever, swollen lips, thirst, nausea, diarrhea; skin irritation upon contact with cell sap.