Clipping Allamanda Vines

Allamanda

• Allamanda vines can reach 15 feet tall, growing best in full sun or shade. Once established plants are fairly drought tolerant. They feature glossy green leathery leaves. Very showy yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, 2 to 4 inches across, develop near the ends of growing vine tips primarily in summer and fall but are produced year-round. In some climates allamanda produces prickly capsule-like fruits that burst open to disperse winged seeds when mature. All parts of allamanda are poisonous, though not fatally so, and exposure to the milky sap can cause dermatitis.

As Vines & Ground Cover

• Prune allamanda fairly severely in early spring, before new growth starts. Shoots that grew in the previous year -- 1-year-old stems -- will produce flowers during the current season. If you’re growing allamanda on a permanent arbor, trellis, fence or other stable frame, one vine-pruning approach is develop permanent “arms” or branches to outline the structure. Then simply cut back new shoots that originate from these older framing stems to 6- to12-inch lengths throughout – reducing last year’s growth to encourage new growth and flowers. You may need to trim again during the year, because vines grow fast. For allamanda grown as ground cover, establish the vine in clumps and cut vegetation back to encourage new growth and flowers.

As Shrubs

• Another popular approach with allamanda is to trim it down into a low but upright and spreading shrub – increasing the number of growing tips throughout, to produce more blooms. Use traditional shrub pruning techniques to encourage new growth and flowers but also to control growth. To encourage new shoot development and growth, prune in early spring just as buds begin to swell. Fertilize allamanda well and clip periodically throughout the growing season for dense vegetation and maximum bloom. Maintain growth at a certain level and also encourage blooms by pruning after every flush of new growth.

As Container & Houseplants

• Use the same general approach used in clipping allamanda into shrub form to keep it manageable within planter boxes, pots and other containers. Because the vines don’t have access to soil nutrients and water, be vigilant about watering and feed them periodically. Clip vines regularly, starting in spring, to limit size and encourage flowering. Grown as a houseplant, allamanda needs at least 4 hours of bright – direct – sun during the day and temperatures, night and day, in the range of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the soil moist and fertilize twice per month from spring into early fall. Cut back on water starting in fall.