Dipladenia (also known as Mandevilla) isn’t just a one-trick pony with its gorgeous, lush blooms—it’s actually incredibly versatile. If you use it as a climbing plant with a trellis, it creates a stunning flowering privacy screen or can turn a plain, boring wall into a sea of color.
Varieties
If you want your Mandevilla to scale a trellis, you’ve got to pick the right variety. Dipladenias don’t just come in different colors; they have very different growth habits, too. You’ll find upright versions perfect for balcony boxes and trailing types that look amazing in hanging baskets. For a trellis, you want the “climbers”—varieties that produce long shoots several feet long so they can really wrap themselves around their support.
Some great climbing Mandevillas include:
- Topaze Vermillon (vibrant red)
- Opale Fuchsia Flammé
- Opale Citrine 2.0 (sunny yellow)
- Sundaville Apricot
- Sundaville Red
- Sundaville Cream Pink
If you’re looking for particularly vigorous climbers, check out:
- Agathe White
- Agathe Scarlet (deep red)
- Mandevilla x Rubiniana
Trellises
When it comes to what your Dipladenia climbs on, the choice is yours! The most common shapes you’ll find at the garden center are:
- Trapezoid (fan-shaped)
- Rectangular
You can simply stick these trellises right into the pot. If you have a wider trellis, it’s a good idea to repot your Dipladenia into a rectangular planter box. You can also find “planter boxes with pergolas,” where the box and the climbing support are already attached. If you want to keep it simple, just stick two or three bamboo stakes into the pot and guide the shoots as they grow.
Care Tips
Producing all those flowers and long vines takes a lot of energy! Make sure to fertilize your Mandevilla regularly during its blooming season and try not to let the soil dry out completely.
To get that dense, lush look, help the plant out by manually guiding the new shoots up the trellis bars. For the best flower show, give your Dipladenia a very bright spot. They handle direct sunlight well, though they do appreciate a little light shade during the scorching midday heat.
Overwintering
Once the temperatures drop toward 46°F (8°C), it’s getting too chilly for your Mandevilla out on the balcony. It’s time to move it indoors to a bright spot for winter storage. Pro tip: If you’re short on space, you can give the plant a good prune before moving it inside!
