Choose an allamanda by the habit first: a climbing golden trumpet you tie, a bush allamanda for a hedge, or a purple allamanda if you want magenta trumpets. All are Allamanda, not mandevilla.
Choose a climbing golden trumpet, a bush allamanda, or a purple allamanda
| Kind | Best for | Not for |
|---|---|---|
| Climbing golden trumpet | A fence, arbor, or trellis; golden trumpet is the yellow climber | A low hedge you will not tie |
| Bush allamanda | A hedge or a patio shrub; bush allamanda has smaller yellow trumpets with an orange throat | Covering a tall arbor |
| Purple allamanda | A climber with reddish-purple flowers that fade toward pink; cherry allamanda is the cherry form | A yellow-only color scheme |
Know your USDA hardiness zone before you pick a type of allamanda that will take your winter. Type your ZIP below.
2023 USDA ZIP listings (PRISM / USDA-ARS). Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone · Official USDA map.
golden trumpet is the climbing yellow plant most tags call allamanda or golden trumpet. It needs a support because it does not twine. [1] bush allamanda is the shrub form. It stands without a trellis and is often sold as Allamanda neriifolia. [2] cherry allamanda is the magenta climber. Hairy stems and reddish-purple flowers that fade toward pink mark it; it is still Allamanda, not mandevilla. [3] Sun, water, and bringing a pot in before frost stay on How to Grow Allamanda.
Vine vs bush vs purple allamanda?
Climbing golden trumpet is the yellow vine you tie. Bush allamanda is a yellow shrub. Purple allamanda is a magenta climber. All three are Allamanda.
Which allamanda for a hedge?
Bush allamanda. Climbing golden trumpet will ramble unless you keep cutting it, and even then it wants something to lean on.
Browse by kind
Climbing golden trumpet
Climbing golden trumpet. Yellow trumpets on a woody climber you tie; it does not twine.
Bush allamanda
Bush allamanda. A yellow shrub with an orange-red throat; often sold as Allamanda neriifolia.
Purple allamanda
Purple allamanda. Reddish-purple trumpets that fade toward pink on a climber with hairy stems; still Allamanda.
Named yellow selections such as Brown Bud sit inside climbing golden trumpet; they are not a separate species. Dwarf allamanda is usually a compact bush allamanda, not a fourth kind. Allamanda neriifolia on a tag is still bush allamanda. [4]
Read the species name on the tag before you buy — a bush allamanda and a golden trumpet have the same sun, but they do not fill the same spot.
FAQ
Is dwarf allamanda a different species?
Usually no. Dwarf allamanda is typically a compact bush allamanda (Allamanda schottii), sometimes sold as Compacta. It is still the shrub form, not a fourth species.
Is Cherries Jubilee a purple allamanda?
Cherries Jubilee is a named selection of climbing Allamanda cathartica with mauve flowers. Purple allamanda in this catalog is Allamanda blanchetii. Read the species name on the tag.
Is Allamanda neriifolia a different plant?
No. Allamanda neriifolia is a synonym of bush allamanda (Allamanda schottii). If the tag says neriifolia, you still have the shrub form.
Related guides
References
- [1] North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/allamanda-cathartica/ - [2] Wisconsin Horticulture -
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/golden-trumpet-allamanda-cathartica-golden-trumpet/ - [3] University of Florida IFAS Extension -
https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP032 - [4] UF/IFAS Assessment of Nonnative Plants -
https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/allamanda-schottii/
This note is part of Allamanda Guides.
More type comparisons by plant are gathered in Types of Plants Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors