Mandevilla Info and Care Sheet
History
Mandevilla plants have a surprisingly rich backstory for something we mostly know as a lush, summery climber. They originate from Central and South America and were named after the British diplomat and plant enthusiast Henry Mandeville in the 1800s, when European collectors were obsessed with tropical ornamentals. Today they’re grown worldwide for their glossy foliage and long-lasting trumpet flowers, which bloom almost continuously in warm climates. Gardeners love them because they’re versatile—perfect for pots, trellises, fences, and balcony displays—and they thrive in Australia’s warm states with very little fuss. Their biggest strengths are their near year‑round flowering, fast growth, tolerance of heat, and ability to create an instant “tropical resort” look in any garden or patio.
General Care
They need to be outside during the day with full sun or 6hrs minimum.
Use well drained soil, and grow in pots or raised garden beds
Water them when they are half dry and they don't like to sit in water, so no saucers without some pebbles to keep the water away from the base of the pot.
Feed with general fertilizers and follow the instructions
Pinch tips when necessary, and to make plant bushier and promote flowering. Some varieties climb and others are more suited to hanging pots or cascading over the side of pots.
Use a climbing structure and the plant will find its way or keep tip pruning so they can grow shrub-like.
How Mandevilla plants handle winter or snow
They’re tropical vines, so anything below about 5°C starts stressing them, and frost or snow will kill the top growth very quickly. In genuinely cold or snowy climates, they behave more like a tender perennial — they won’t survive outdoors unless they’re protected.
What happens in cold conditions
5–10°C: growth slows, leaves may yellow
0–5°C: leaf drop, stem damage
Below 0°C: the plant can die back to the base
Snow or hard frost: usually fatal unless covered or brought indoors.
How people in cold climates keep them alive
Grow them in pots so they can be moved indoors, (bases with wheels available at Bunnings) or into a greenhouse
Use a frost cover or plastic dome (like the ones from Bunnings) during cold snaps
Keep them dry-ish in winter — cold + wet soil is a bad combo
Place them in a bright, sheltered spot until temperatures rise again.
The good news
Even if the top dies back, the root system can survive mild frost and reshoot in spring if protected.