Dipladenia Pink

Dipladenia Pink (Mandevilla sanderi) is the compact, bushy member of the mandevilla family rather than a rampant climber, holding at about 1.2m tall and 1m wide. Deep pink trumpet flowers sit against glossy dark leaves through the warm months, and it keeps producing them with very little attention. It is a pot plant first and a garden plant second.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers right through the warm season. The pink trumpets open in waves rather than one short burst, so a pot by the door stays in flower for months.
• Bushy, not twining. It builds a self supporting mound instead of running for the nearest trellis, which is why it suits a pot with nothing to climb.
• Heat and dry spells suit it. Once established it is both heat tolerant and drought tolerant, so a hot west facing balcony is no problem.
• Good for pollinators. Bees and butterflies work the flowers steadily through summer.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A pot 300mm or wider gives it room for the season. Container growing also lets you shift it under cover when the weather turns cold.

Balconies and courtyards. The compact habit and long flowering make it one of the better choices for a small hot space where a climber would take over.

Small gardens and feature planting. In a frost free garden it works as a low flowering shrub at the front of a bed. The milky sap is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it out of reach.

Growing Dipladenia Pink in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering. It belongs in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and it is frost tender, so cool temperate and inland gardeners should grow it in a pot and move it under shelter for winter.

Soil. Free draining above all else. Use a quality potting mix in containers, and improve heavy garden beds with compost and coarse material so the roots never sit wet.

Water and feed. Water when the top few centimetres of mix are dry, then let it drain fully. A liquid fertiliser every two to three weeks through spring and summer keeps the flowers coming; ease off in winter.

Pruning. Tip prune in early spring to keep it dense and encourage new flowering wood. The sap is milky and can irritate skin, so wear gloves and wash up afterwards.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as tubestock and in 200mm pots sold in packs of six. Tubes are young single plants that fill a 300mm pot within a season or two. The 200mm plants are already branched and can go straight into a decorative pot.

Some flower drop in transit is normal, and the plant sets more within a fortnight. Expect the main flowering flush in its first full summer. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse plants suited to pots and containers
• Choosing the right size pot for your plant
• Compare the wider flowering plant range

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The milky sap is toxic if chewed and can irritate skin on contact. Keep it up on a bench or out of reach where a pet is inclined to nibble foliage.

Will it climb if I give it a trellis?

Not really. This is the compact bushy form, so it stays as a mound rather than twining. Choose a full mandevilla if you want a vine for a fence or pergola.

Can I keep it through a cold winter?

Only under cover. It is frost tender, so in cool temperate and frost prone areas move the pot into a glasshouse, a garage window or a warm verandah before the first cold snap.