Dipladenia (also known as Mandevilla) is one of those summer superstars that just won’t quit blooming. But once the first chill hits the air, a lot of gardeners sadly toss them in the compost. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to! These beauties are actually perennials, and with a little TLC, you can overwinter them indoors. How much effort that takes really depends on how you’re growing them.
Perennial Dipladenias
Technically, every variety of Mandevilla is a perennial. However, you’ll often see them sold as annuals in local garden centers. That’s mostly because Dipladenia is a total “warm weather” plant—it’s incredibly sensitive to the cold. You’ll want to bring these bloomers inside as soon as temperatures dip to around 45°F (8°C). If you wait any longer, you might wake up to a frost-damaged plant that’s past the point of saving.
Is Overwintering Worth It?
Deciding whether to keep your Mandevilla through the winter depends on a few things. You’ll want to consider:
- The price of buying a fresh plant next spring.
- How much space you actually have in your “winter plant room” (or living room!).
Beyond your personal preference, there are a few practical factors to think about based on how the plant is currently potted.
Window Boxes and Hanging Baskets
Some Mandevilla varieties are bred to stay compact—topping out at about 14 inches—which makes them perfect for window boxes. The catch? Most people like to swap their window boxes over to fall mums or kale, which means you’d have to dig up the Dipladenia and pot it separately to bring it inside.
Hanging baskets are another story. These trailing varieties can grow vines over three feet long! Finding a place to hang a massive vine indoors can be a challenge. You can solve the space issue by giving them a good trim, but you still have to decide if you have the right spot for the basket.
Because of the extra work involved in repotting or finding space for these types, many gardeners find it easier to just start fresh with new plants each year.
Large Planters and Containers
If you’ve been growing your Mandevilla in a large patio container, overwintering is a total breeze. You can simply wheel the whole pot into its winter quarters without any extra fuss. In this case, I definitely recommend keeping the plant! Just a heads-up for next year: overwintered plants sometimes take a little longer to start blooming in the spring compared to greenhouse-grown plants, but they’ll get there!
