Red Brazilian Jasmine

Red Brazilian Jasmine (Mandevilla sanderi, sold as dipladenia, red form) is the compact climber for a pot beside a warm wall. It twines to about 2m with a spread of 1m, so it suits a courtyard trellis or a balcony obelisk rather than a fence run. Deep red trumpet flowers open from spring through summer and into autumn wherever nights stay mild.

Why you'll love it

• Months of red trumpets. Flowering runs from spring into autumn in warm gardens, not in a single short burst.
• Compact for a climber. At roughly 2m by 1m it stays in scale with a courtyard, a balcony or a pot beside a door.
• Glossy foliage all year. The thick dark leaves stay presentable between flushes, which many flowering climbers cannot.
• Heat and humidity suit it. Reflected warmth off paving, coastal humidity and short dry spells are all fine once established.

Where it works best

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A pot 400mm or wider with a small obelisk or trellis is the classic use. In a container it holds nearer 1.5m and moves under shelter when the weather turns.

Poolside and small gardens. Leaf drop is light and the plant stays small, so it suits a narrow bed beside paving where a bigger climber would take over. On a north or east facing wall it covers a 2m panel and flowers at eye level.

Growing Red Brazilian Jasmine in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to very light shade, out of cold wind. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens only. It is frost tender, so anywhere that frosts it has to be a pot that comes under cover for winter.

Soil. Free draining and rich in organic matter. In pots use a premium potting mix, not a cheap one that holds too much water. In the ground, work compost through the backfill and raise the bed on clay.

Water and feed. Keep the mix evenly moist through spring and summer, letting the top few centimetres dry between waterings, then ease off in winter. A liquid feed high in potassium every three to four weeks drives the flowering. High nitrogen fertiliser gives leaf and little colour.

Pruning. Tip prune through the growing season to keep it bushy and trigger more flower buds. In late winter cut the plant back by about a third and remove thin or dead stems. It flowers on new growth, so that trim costs nothing.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown as tube stock. Plants are young, usually a few twining stems on a small root ball, and often not yet in flower. Potted into a 300mm to 400mm container with a support, tube stock typically flowers in its first warm season and fills the frame in the second.

Young plants travel well because the leaves are thick and hold moisture. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Give it two to three weeks to settle before the first liquid feed, and expect steady growth once nights stay above about 15 degrees. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. One honest warning: the stems carry a milky sap that irritates skin and is toxic if chewed, so this is not a pet safe plant.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full climbing plant range
• Plants that succeed on a balcony
• Poolside plants with light leaf drop
• Choosing low maintenance poolside plants

Common questions

Is dipladenia the same thing as mandevilla?

Effectively yes. Dipladenia was the older genus name, and the trade still uses it for the compact, smaller leaved forms like this one. Botanically they now sit in the one genus, Mandevilla.

Will it survive winter outside?

Only in frost free gardens. In cool temperate and inland districts it needs to spend winter in a pot under cover, or be treated as a warm season plant you replace.

Is it safe around dogs and cats?

No. The milky sap is an irritant and the plant is toxic if eaten, so keep it out of reach if your pet chews foliage. Wear gloves when pruning it.