Quickly twining around any support, or pinched to create a handsome hanging specimen, Alice Dupont allamanda is an attractive evergreen vine endowed with beautiful, deep pink, funnelform blooms up to 4 inches wide and 2 inches long, set off against dark green, large evergreen leaves. It may be the most popular cultivar of mandevilla.
Winter interest: plant has winter interest due to unusual form, nice persistent fruits, showy winter trunk, or winter flowers
It looks particularly attractive twining along a fence or over an arbor or mail box. Foliage and flowers cluster toward the top of the fence or arbor several years after planting. Regularly heading back several of the twining stems each year will help generate new foliage and flowers near the ground. Rapid growth and profuse flowering have helped allamanda become popular as an annual in cooler regions where freezing temperatures kill the plant to the ground.
Growing best in full sun, allamanda needs well-drained soil and should receive ample moisture during the growing season. Flowers appear in greatest abundance during the summer, but some appear all year in hardiness zones 10 and 11.
No pests or diseases are of major concern. Plants are occasionally bothered by scale and mealybugs.
This document is FPS400, one of a series of the Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 1999. Revised October 2023. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.
Edward F. Gilman, professor emeritus; Ryan W. Klein, assistant professor, arboriculture; and Gail Hansen, professor, sustainable landscape design; Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.
Mandevillas are tropical vines known for their large, showy flowers and glossy foliage. Of the many cultivars available, the Alice Du Pont variety is one of the most popular. With its prolific blooms and vining habit, this plant can create stunning vertical interest in the garden But exactly how tall does an Alice Du Pont mandevilla grow? In this comprehensive growing guide, we will explore everything you need to know about this beautiful vine, including details on its mature size and height
An Overview of Alice Du Pont Mandevilla
The Alice Du Pont mandevilla (Mandevilla ‘Alice Du Pont’) is a hybrid variety belonging to the Mandevilla genus It is a fast-growing vine adorned with large, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of rich pink, sometimes with yellow or creamy-white throats The blooms appear in clusters from early summer through fall, often measuring 3-4 inches across.
This tropical vine has lustrous, evergreen foliage. Its leaves are oval with prominent veining. As a vining plant, Alice Du Pont mandevilla requires a trellis or other vertical support structure to climb upwards. It thrives in warm, humid environments and is winter hardy only in USDA zones 10-11. However, it can be grown as an annual or overwintered indoors in cooler climates.
Factors That Determine Mature Height
The exact height a mature Alice Du Pont mandevilla will reach depends on various factors:
-
Growing Conditions – Mandevillas prefer warm temperatures, high humidity, and fertile, well-draining soil. Insufficient light, moisture, nutrients, or improper winter storage can restrict its growth.
-
Support Structure – Access to a sturdy trellis, arbor, fence, etc. allows the vine to fully showcase its vining habit. Without adequate support, it may not reach its maximum potential height.
-
Pruning – Regular pruning encourages bushy, compact growth. Left unpruned, Alice Du Pont mandevilla can grow quite lanky and tall.
-
Age – As a fast growing vine, Alice Du Pont mandevilla gains significant height each year. Mature, well-established plants tend to be taller.
-
Container vs. In-ground – Container-grown specimens often remain more compact. In-ground plants have greater access to resources and space to support vigorous growth.
Expected Mature Height
When provided with ideal growing conditions, proper care and vertical support, a mature Alice Du Pont mandevilla can reach heights between 10-15 feet. However, on average, gardeners report this vine growing to approximately 8-12 feet tall once fully established in the landscape.
Left completely unchecked, Alice Du Pont mandevilla has the potential to climb up to 20 feet high. But few gardeners allow it to grow this enormous, preferring to prune it for manageable size and fullness.
In a container, you can expect Alice Du Pont mandevilla to achieve a modest height of 3-5 feet. However, even potted specimens will become lanky and unattractive without routine pruning and training onto trellises.
Tips for Managing the Growth
-
Provide a sturdy support structure like a garden obelisk or lattice panel. This encourages vertical climbing rather than sprawling.
-
Pinch back long stems to promote bushy, compact growth habit. Remove spent blooms regularly.
-
Water and fertilize regularly during the growing season to support vigorous gains in height.
-
Grow in full sun to maximize growth potential. Offer afternoon shade in extremely hot areas.
-
Train the vines onto their support structure. Use plant ties or clips to gently direct growth upwards.
-
Grow in-ground instead of containers for faster growth and greater mature size. Amend soil with compost or manure.
-
Overwinter indoors if possible and replant outside the following season. Repeat pruning and training each year.
Ideal Uses in the Landscape
Thanks to its vigorous climbing habit, Alice Du Pont mandevilla vines are perfectly suited for:
- Adorning arbors, obelisks, trellises and pergolas
- Creating privacy screens and hiding unattractive views
- Adding vertical appeal to fences or walls
- Trailing down from hanging baskets and elevated planters
- Training up mailbox posts and lamp posts
- Covering unsightly features like AC units or utility boxes
With its abundant tropical blooms and ability to grow 10-15 feet tall, Alice Du Pont mandevilla is an excellent vine choice for adding color, privacy and visual interest to vertical structures throughout the garden. Just be sure to provide ample support for this eager climber to happily grow skyward!
k
Alice Dupont mandevilla is colorful climbing vine
FAQ
Does mandevilla vine need a trellis?
Do mandevillas grow back every year?
Do mandevilla plants like full sun or shade?
Where is the best place to plant a 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.
How big does a Mandevilla grow?
Plant type: Mandevilla can be evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous woody climbers or perennials. Height and spread : Mandevilla is a fast-growing plant. It can grow up to 3-10 feet in height (90-300 cm) and 3-4 feet wide (90-120 cm). Flowers : The flowers are trumpet-shaped and can reach 4 in. across (10 cm).
How tall is Alice du Pont?
With a mature height of 15 to 20 feet, ‘Alice du Pont’ has the size to make an impression. 1. Use mandevilla in entries Witness the twin urn-grown specimens making a display on these entryway columns in the photo above.
How far apart do Mandevilla vines grow?
Height: 3 to 10 feet Spacing: 5 feet apart Bloom Time: Summer, fall Flower Color: Pink, white, red Native Area: North America, Central America, South America Photo Credit: Dreamstime. Mandevilla vines bloom best in full sun with at least six hours of direct light on most days, but they can handle shade occasionally.