Dipladenia divides ArtisTree Plantopinions experts

Dipladenia, a lovely flowering vine belonging to the Mandevilla genus, adorns countless Sarasota landscapes with colorful, trumpet-like flowers and rich green foliage. But if you mention it to ArtisTree’s Plantopinons experts, prepare to step back because petals might fly. Welcome to our Dipladenia Debate.

Joe Mantkowski, VP Landscape Design, thumbs up:

Great plant with different color options including white, yellow, red and pink.  Needs full sun and good drainage to thrive. Only downside, aside from being susceptible to cold damage, is the milky sap that can be toxic if ingested. It can also be a skin irritant — two things to keep in mind.

Clinton Lak, Landscape Designer, thumbs down:

I do not use Dipladenia because it’s marginally hardy at best. The colors are great; however, there are far more plants available that perform better with far less care. That said, I’ve planted it in a container inside my lanai because I wanted a strong pop of color in the spring. Looked nice.

Chris Culp, Landscape Designer, thumbs up:

I do like Dipladenia. It does best in subtropical and tropical climates. It’s a perennial that prefers sun to partial sun, but I’ve found it performs best in sunny areas with well-drained soil. Be sure to prune it in early spring to keep the vines under control. Yes, it can be cold-sensitive since it’s in the Mandevilla family, but that’s just something you have to be aware of and prepare for. The trumpet-shaped flowers and colors are what make it really stand out.

Brian Clouser, Landscape Designer, thumbs up:

I like Dipladenia. I started using it more often here because I wanted something other than Dwarf Bougainvillea and Ixora that would stay relatively small and give colorful flowers. Downsides are the cold sensitivity and sap. But deer and rabbits tend to avoid it because it tastes bitter, so it helps keep predators at bay. It tends to be fuller than Mandevilla, which I like.

Elisabeth Owen, Landscape Designer, thumbs down:

I don’t use Dipladenia as it’s too cold tender ( in my opinion) to treat as a permanent plant. That being said, if planted in the spring, it would be good as a low border planting for a spot of color in a bed. Because it prefers to be on the dry side, it’s best used when watered by drip line and in full sun. I look at it as more of an annual. It’s native to Brazil.

Conan Michel, Operations Manager, thumbs up:

I like Dipladenia. The plant has bright flowers and grows like a vine. Dipladenia also comes in different colors: pink, white, red and yellow. It flowers often in full sun and can be grown in pots, on a trellis or added to your landscape for a splash of color. Great plant for Southwest Florida!

ArtisTree “Plantopinions” is a roundtable debate between multiple ArtisTree experts on the virtues of various plant specimens. Sometimes there’s consensus and sometimes not. In the end, you are the judge!

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Category Vines, News