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Allamanda violacea Purple Allamanda

Edward F. Gilman, Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen

Introduction

This evergreen vine or climbing shrub has 3-inch-long, funnel-shaped blooms which are reddish-purple fading to pink, giving a two-toned effect. The light green, pubescent leaves are arranged in whorls on weak, sprawling stems. While it can be allowed to rapidly cover an arbor or other support, purple allamanda also makes an attractive free-standing specimen shrub with careful pruning. Many people use it to cover the base of a mailbox or pole. Allamanda will cascade over a wall and makes a nice hanging basket. Rapid growth creates a sprawling form with individual shoots growing alone, away from the rest of the plant. Regular pinching will keep the plant in bounds, but too much pinching removes flower buds which form on new growth.

 

Figure 1. Full form—Allamanda violacea: purple allamanda.
Figure 1.  Full form—Allamanda violacea: purple allamanda.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

 

General Information

Scientific name: Allamanda violacea

Pronunciation: al-luh-MAN-duh vye-o-LAY-see-uh

Common name(s): purple allamanda

Family: Apocynaceae

Plant type: shrub; groundcover

USDA hardiness zones: 9B through 11 (Figure 2)

Planting month for zone 9: year-round

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year-round

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Uses: container or above-ground planter; ground cover; cascading down a wall; hanging basket

Availability: generally available in many areas within its hardiness range

 

Figure 2. Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Figure 2.  Shaded area represents potential planting range.

 

Description

Height: depends upon supporting structure

Spread: depends upon supporting structure

Plant habit: spreading

Plant density: moderate

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: coarse

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: whorled

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: elliptic (oval)

Leaf venation: brachidodrome

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no fall color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: lavender; purple

Flower characteristic: year-round flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: unknown

Fruit length: unknown

Fruit cover: no fruit

Fruit color: green

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy; typically multi-trunked or clumping stems

Current year stem/twig color: green

Current year stem/twig thickness: medium

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in full sun

Soil tolerances: occasionally wet; acidic; slightly alkaline; clay; sand; loam

Drought tolerance: moderate

Soil salt tolerance: unknown

Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable

Winter interest: plant has winter interest due to unusual form, nice, persistent fruits, showy winter trunk, or winter flowers

Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more

Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant

Use and Management

Flowering best in full-sun locations, purple allamanda should be planted in frost-free sheltered locations in nematode-free soil. Water plants generously until well-established. All parts of the plant are poisonous and should be used with caution in areas frequented by young children.

Propagation is by cuttings, but it is grown best when grafted on A. cathartica (yellow allamanda) cultivars 'Hendersonii' or 'Schottii.'

Design Considerations

The purple allamanda works well as a background or massing plant when grown on a trellis or fence to block undesirable views or fill gaps along walls. It can also be used to add interest to an arbor or pole. The medium-size, light green foliage of the allamanda shows well with contrasting plant features such as large leaves, coarse texture, thick stems, and dark green or burgundy color. The loose, sprawling form of the vine contrasts with neat plants such as the clumping, arching forms of grasses and other vase-shaped, small-leaved shrubs. Low-growing groundcover with a mounding or matting form will emphasize the upright form of a trained allamanda on a trellis or arbor. To create a large plant mass along a fence select other vines with a variety of flower colors, such as white, pink, or yellow to mix with the allamanda for more interest.

Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases are of major concern except for nematodes. Purple allamanda is only occasionally bothered by scale and mites.

Publication #FPS 32

Release Date:December 4, 2018

Reviewed At:June 10, 2022

Related Collections

Part of Shrubs Fact Sheets

Related Topics

Fact Sheet

About this Publication

This document is FPS 32, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date September 1999. Revised August 2018. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Ryan W. Klein, graduate assistant, Environmental Horticulture Department; and Gail Hansen, associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Gail Hansen de Chapman