Mandevilla, also known as rocktrumpet, is a classic tropical vine and a great way to brighten up and add a pop of color to any sunny area in your garden. It’s native to Central and South America and is growing in popularity as more and more gardeners learn about their stunning blooms.
They feature showy trumpet-shaped five-petaled flowers, which usually come in shades of red, white, pink, or with occasional yellow throats. Their pleasant fragrance is especially attractive to pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Mandevilla vines are an especially popular patio plant that’s well-suited to containers. They’ve experienced a comeback in popularity in recent years, and breeding efforts to broaden the vine’s variety continue. Some species in the genus have smaller, more abundant blooms, while others have fewer, larger blooms.
This tender perennial can be grown outside all year long in frost-free climates, as an annual in colder climates, or as a houseplant from year to year when overwintered.
Although they can bloom all year in warm climates, they typically bloom in the summer and can last into the fall, with their ovate leaves typically having a lustrous green color. These fast-growing vines should be planted in mid-to-late spring when the temperature is consistently high and the risk of frost has passed.
As a passionate gardener and mandevilla vine owner myself I know how distressing it can be to find your prized plant infested with tiny crawling bugs! I’ve dealt with my fair share of mandevilla vine pests so I wanted to write this guide to help others identify and treat the most common little bugs you might encounter on the gorgeous Alice du Pont cultivar.
A Quick Intro to the Alice du Pont Mandevilla Vine
Before we dive into bug identification let’s take a moment to appreciate why the Alice du Pont mandevilla vine is so popular in the first place. This Brazilian native is beloved for its abundant light pink trumpet-shaped blooms and lush deep green foliage. It thrives in hot humid climates making it a star summertime performer across the Southern United States. Mandevilla vines require full sun exposure and regular watering to really flourish. With proper care, the Alice du Pont cultivar can grow up to 20 feet tall – though most home gardeners keep it pruned to 6-10 feet as a flowering vine.
Okay, now onto the pesky bugs! Here are the most common insect pests I’ve encountered on my Alice du Pont mandevilla over the years:
Aphids
These tiny pear-shaped sap suckers come in a range of colors like green, yellow, black or gray. The most obvious sign of an aphid infestation is sticky “honeydew” coating your mandevilla’s leaves and new growth. Aphids cause distorted, curled leaves and sometimes even transmit plant diseases. It’s crucial to control them before populations explode.
Spider Mites
Too small to see with the naked eye, spider mites suck juices from mandevilla leaves, causing stippling, discoloration and webbing. They thrive in hot, dry conditions. Watch for speckling on leaves as an early sign of infection.
Mealybugs
Covered in white waxy strands, mealybugs cluster at leaf nodes and stems, sucking plant sap. Heavy infestations cause stunted growth and yellowing leaves. Their cotton-like egg sacks are easy identifiers.
Whiteflies
These tiny moth-like insects flock to the undersides of leaves, where they lay eggs and spread sticky honeydew. Check for tiny white dots that flutter away when disturbed. Outbreaks lead to sooty mold and stunted plant growth.
Scales
There are many types of scale, but all appear as tiny immobile bumps along stems and on the underside of leaves. Their waxy coverings camouflage them from predators. An advanced scale infestation can seriously weaken or even kill a mandevilla vine.
Controlling Mandevilla Vine Insect Pests
Now that you know how to identify common mandevilla bugs, let’s discuss organic and low-impact treatment methods:
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Carefully inspect plants weekly for early signs of pests. This allows for quicker, more effective action.
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Prune off any heavily infested stems, leaves and flowers, disposing of them in sealed bags. This helps contain the spread.
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Hose down plants with a strong stream of water to knock off and kill insects. Repeat weekly as needed.
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Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil as a natural pesticide. Coat all plant surfaces and undersides of leaves.
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Release beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings and predatory mites to feed on bad bugs.
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Apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to suffocate overwintering pests like scales.
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As a last resort, use targeted chemical pesticides, following all safety directions. Aim for the least toxic solutions first.
Preventing Mandevilla Vine Insect Problems
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to garden pests. Here are some tips to stop bugs in their tracks:
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Quarantine new plants before introducing to check for hidden bugs.
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Provide optimum sunlight, space, water and nutrients so plants stay vigorous.
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Prune back vegetation regularly to improve airflow and reduce humidity.
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Monitor for signs of stress and address issues promptly. Healthy vines resist pests better.
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Disinfect pots and garden tools between uses so pests can’t spread on them.
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Remove fallen leaves, flowers and debris where insects can hide and breed.
The bottom line is that consistent inspection and quick intervention at the first signs of infestation are vital. When it comes to managing pests, it pays to be proactive. But even veteran gardeners like me run into surprises sometimes. So study those common mandevilla vine bugs, have your treatment remedies ready to go, and your Alice du Pont will continue gracing your garden with beauty for years to come! Let those little buggers know this vine is defended!
How to Plant and Grow Mandevilla
Choose a location with adequate drainage and rich soil for growing outside. To help the blooms, amend the planting area with compost or other organic matter.
The site should receive ample sunlight, at least six hours of direct light on most days, but will benefit from some shade at the peak of summer.
How to Plant Mandevilla
Mandevilla can be planted outside in mid to late-spring, when there is no longer any chance of frost. You should hold off until the temperatures are at least 50 degrees F at night and 60 degrees F during the day.
Plant in a sunny location with rich soil and enough drainage. Loosen the soil in the area where you’ll be planting and add compost or other organic matter. Dig a hole that is a little bigger than the root ball and has the same depth.
Next, take the plant from its nursery container and, if necessary, loosen the roots. Plant it so that the top of the root ball is just slightly above the surrounding soil.
Backfill the hole with soil, tamping down lightly to eliminate air pockets, and then thoroughly water the area. Water consistently until the plant is established.
Alice Dupont Mandevilla
FAQ
What are the tiny bugs on my mandevilla?
How to get rid of aphids on mandevilla vine?
How do I get rid of mites on my mandevilla?
What are the pests of mandevilla?
What is a Mandevilla X amabilis ‘Alice du Pont’?
The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources. Very popular, Mandevilla x amabilis ‘Alice du Pont’ is a semi-evergreen, woody, twining climber with sprays of up to 20 large, bright icy pink, funnel-shaped flowers, up to 4 in. across (10 cm), with a deep red throat.
Are there Bugs on Mandevilla vines?
Bugs on mandevilla vine are easy to treat if they’re caught early, but you’ll have to keep a close eye out for them since these insects often remain well-hidden. Mealybugs leave small piles of waxy debris on the branch crotches of mandevilla vines, feeding nearby or on the undersides of leaves.
Is Mandevilla a good vine?
A classic tropical vine, mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.) is a great way to add a splash of color to any sunny vertical space in your garden. With big, showy blooms that continue all summer and the fact that the plant is low-maintenance makes it a top vine choice.
Are Mandevilla vines a resurgence?
Mandevilla vines have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, and breeding work continues to expand the vine’s varieties. Mandevillas are all about the big, tropical-looking blooms. They come in shades of pink, red, and white, and many shades in between. Now there’s a new color added to the range, a beautiful apricot.