The Tucson Gardener

Mandevilla 'Red Riding Hood'.

 Current Cultivations

Garden Clubs

Garden Books

In the Garden Calendar

Tucson's Wildlife


Hot and thirsty Pyrrhuloxia.

Local Garden Links

Links for Special Needs

The Archive

The Tool Shed

Fairy Duster bloom.

FAQ

Glossary

Search

Site Index

You're visiting Tucsongardener.com

Mellow Yellow Freezes in the Cold
Golden trumpet, or bush Allamanda, Allamanda neriifolia or Allamanda schottii show up in the nurseries in the spring as a shrubby container plant and sometimes as standards. The bright yellow, elongated flowers and dark green foliage with the whorls of leaves make them an eye pleaser. They do great in the summer in the Tucson garden especially if planted in a large container where their shape and growth can be controlled.

When winter arrives, these Central and South American natives can take a terrible beating from the first cold snap. The leaves will turn black and the branches can freeze nearly back to the crown. Covering the plants with protective sheets or other covers may not be enough to protect them from the cold, especially when temperatures dip into the low twenties.

Bush Allamanda, Allamanda neriifolia, having suffered severe frost damage makes a comeback in the spring.
Bush Allamanda started from a cutting and held over in a greenhouse for spring relocation into a larger patio container.

Another problem, especially with a container grown specimen, may be iron chlorosis producing yellowing in the leaves. An application or two of iron chelate may help the problem returning the leaves to their dark green color.

Although the plants don't tolerate the winter cold they are easy to propagate from cuttings so that you can keep replacement plants growing in a sheltered location for the following spring and summer show of flowers.

Two inch Allamanda blooms.
A few leaves remain untouched after high twenty winter temperatures. Potted plant will need to be pruned before new spring growth
This spiked 3/4 - inch seed pod came from an Allamanda neriifolia.

Other Allamanda include the Golden Trumpet vine, Allamanda cathartica which can grow well over ten feet in frost free areas and produce large yellow flowers.

If you're a gardener, willing to protect your Allamanda from winter damage and control the shape and size with pruning, this may be a plant for your container garden. (2008)

|  Current Cultivations  |  Garden Clubs  |  Garden Books  |  In the Garden Calendar  |  Tucson's Wildlife  |  Local Links  |  Links for Special Needs  |  The Archive  |  The Tool Shed  |  FAQ  |
 |  Glossary  |  Search  |  Site Index  |

The Tucson Gardener - Tucson's Gardening Information Site
Copyright© 1998-2008. All Rights Reserved  Disclaimer
 No material, written or photographic, may be reprinted or used without written permission.
Contact Information.