Does a Mandevilla Vine Love Acid Soil?

Mandevilla Hybrids

• Hybridized mandevillas are evergreen, twining vines that can reach 15 to 20 feet in height and bloom from spring to fall. One of the most commonly grown cultivars is "Alice du Pont," which has pink 2- to 4-inch blooms. Also popular is the Sun Parasol series developed by Suntory Flowers in Japan. Sun Parasol has varieties that bloom in red, pink and white and includes "Giant" varieties with larger flowers, and "Pretty" varieties, which are vigorous plants that can grow in smaller containers without supports.

Mandevilla laxa

• Commonly called Chilean Jasmine, Mandevilla laxa is a deciduous vine that will stay evergreen in areas without frost. It grows to 15 feet high and produces very fragrant white blossoms in summer. Unlike the hybrids, it performs well even in areas with less heat and its roots are hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mandevilla sanderi

• Mandevilla sanderi is an evergreen with more of a shrubby form than the other mandevillas. Although it will eventually climb as high as 15 to 20 feet, it can be kept as a compact bush by pinching out new shoots. Flowers are 3 to 4 inches wide in rosy pink with yellow throats. Some varieties of Mandevilla sanderi, such as "My Fair Lady," "Red Riding Hood" and "Strawberry Lemonade," are lower growing and work well in hanging baskets.

Care

• Mandevillas require full sun for the best flowering but can tolerate partial shade, especially midday in very hot climates. They can survive short periods of drought but prefer regular water -- approximately 1 inch per week. These heat-lovers can be planted against a south-facing wall for maximum warmth and in cooler climates can be grown indoors or treated as annuals. For heaviest flowering, feed every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer, diluted by half during the growing and blooming period.