Allamanda prefers a rich soil and plenty of water during the hot/dry days.
Some of the varieties that are grown here include: Allamanda blanchetii syn A. violacea, which is a shrub with large Purple trumpet flowers; Allamanda purpurea, a small to medium shrub with masses of violet to purple flowers; and Allamanda cathartica cv Caribbean sunrise syn A. catharctica cv cherry jubilee, a climber with large bright pink flowers. Others are Allamanda cathartica cv Jamaican Sunset, a shrub to semi-climber with smoky pink flowers; Allamanda cathartica, a common trumpet vine with vigorous free flowering bright yellow trumpet flowers and Allamanda cathartica cv Schottii, the most popular of the allamandas, which flowers over a long period with large yellow blooms.
There are new varieties on the market known as the Dwarf Allamanda. These varieties are magnificent shrubs and can grow as ideal potted plants. They include: Allamanda cathartica cv ‘Sunee’ which is a low spreading allamanda with flushes of golden medium-sized flowers; Allamanda schottii cv Baby gold syn A. neriifolia, a cultivar which is an open crowned shrub with small golden yellow flowers; Allamanda schottii cv Grey supreme, a cultivar with grey leaves and flowers that are more yellowish than gold. These dwarf varieties are ideal as potted plants and are very popular in Florida and the Caribbean.
Remember to prune your Allamanda regularly if you are growing it as a shrub or potted plant.
NB: The Peltophorum Tree at the corner of South Road and King Street opposite the High Court is a disaster waiting to happen. Last week for the third time, yes, the third time, another chunk of tree broke away on the lower main trunk leaving the trunk very hollow and the top of the tree very heavy. Could the authorities responsible for these trees please do something before another disaster strikes? Why is it so difficult to work out a maintenance schedule for our trees?
Until next week, Happy Gardening.
