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Dipladenia – Brazilian Jasmine
Dipladenias come from the tropical parts of South America and as such have traditionally been classed as “Hot House
Plants,” needing a minimum temperature of 21 degrees centigrade. However, a new variety called Sundaville tolerates temperatures down to 7 deg c which is well within the scope of a normal conservatory that has some winter heating and is kept a little above freezing, bearing in mind that normal house living room temperatures are somewhere over 18 deg c.
The Dipladenia family of plants in general are evergreen, slender, twining, climbers that normally reach around 10 feet in height, but Sundaville is more vigorous than the “Hot House,” types and will reach nearer 20 feet. The thin stems will need wire mesh, or trellis support, but will give good, permanent cover
on any sunny wall
with its glossy green leaves, as the variety Sundaville will spread some 10 feet across. In the growing season Sundaville, like all Dipladenias, likes moist, but
free draining soil so that it doesn’t ever stand in water. As is often the case with tropical climbers, watering should be done very sparingly in Winter
months with plants kept on the dryer side. Red spider mite can be problem for Dipladenias and lightly spraying to moisten the air round the plants will help reduce and even eradicate the problem.
The Brazilian Jasmine, as it is commonly called, will grow best in a conservatory, but can go outside in a tub, or even be planted in a border in a very sheltered, but sunny spot that is out of all wind. Obviously with its minimum temperature requirements this would only be for the warmer part of the summer and it would have to be taken inside long before any frosts came in the Autumn.
Dipladeinas have relatively large and exotic funnel shaped flowers, although sizes do vary on the different tropical varieties. There are many colour
types available generally including white, yellow and variations on reds, but obviously “Sundaville Red,” is, as its name says, a very deep and vivid red. Plants flower freely and deadheading regularly will encourage repeat flowering during the
flowering months of July to September. Propagation is normally carried out by cuttings, taken in early Spring, from some of previous years new growth when it is cut back at that time.
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