Both mandevilla and dipladenia are popular flowering vines that can attract hummingbirds to gardens. When deciding between these two plants, there are several factors to consider including climate adaptability, bloom time, color options, and maintenance needs.
Quick Overview
Mandevilla and dipladenia are both tropical vines native to South America. They produce tubular flowers that appeal to hummingbirds. While similar, there are some key differences:
- Mandevilla does better in warm, humid climates. Dipladenia thrives in hot, dry conditions.
- Dipladenia blooms spring through fall. Mandevilla peaks in summer.
- Mandevilla has more color varieties. Dipladenia is limited to white, pink, and red.
- Dipladenia is more tolerant of neglect. Mandevilla needs more careful watering.
Climate Considerations
When selecting either mandevilla or dipladenia, it’s important to consider your local growing conditions. Mandevilla thrives in zones 9-11 and does best in warm, humid environments. It appreciates moist, well-drained soil. Dipladenia is more drought tolerant and can flourish in zones 9-12, making it a better choice for hot, arid regions. It can handle more sun exposure and lower humidity. Before planting either vine, assess factors like your hardiness zone, rainfall, humidity levels, and sunlight availability to determine which is better suited to your climate.
Ideal Conditions for Mandevilla
- Hardiness zones 9-11
- Daytime temperatures around 70-85°F
- Evening temperatures above 50°F
- Average relative humidity 60% or higher
- Moist, well-draining soil
- Part sun to light shade
Ideal Conditions for Dipladenia
- Hardiness zones 9-12
- Daytime temperatures up to 100°F
- Tolerates lower humidity
- Withstands drought periods
- Full sun to part shade
Bloom Season
Another consideration is when you want the plants to flower. Dipladenia blooms from spring through fall in warmer climates. It produces flowers continually when temperatures remain above 60°F. Mandevilla reaches peak bloom in summer and may go dormant in winter. It flowers heaviest from June through September. Keeping the bloom times in mind, dipladenia might be a better choice if you want flowers for more of the year. Go with mandevilla for maximum flower power during the summer months.
Color Options
Mandevilla offers more diversity in flower colors. It comes in red, pink, white, yellow, and apricot tones. Dipladenia is limited to red, pink, and white blooms. If you are looking for bright yellow or apricot flowers to attract hummingbirds, mandevilla is the clear winner. For traditional red or pink blossoms, either option will work well.
| Color | Mandevilla | Dipladenia |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Yes | Yes |
| Pink | Yes | Yes |
| White | Yes | Yes |
| Yellow | Yes | No |
| Apricot | Yes | No |
Maintenance Needs
Dipladenia is a lower maintenance option than mandevilla. It can tolerate drier conditions, heat, and partial neglect. Mandevilla requires more attentive care with consistent watering, fertilizing, pruning, and disease prevention. If you don’t want to spend as much time caring for your vine, dipladenia is likely the better choice. Go with mandevilla if you don’t mind providing a little extra TLC to enjoy its diverse blooms.
Mandevilla Care Tips
- Water regularly, allowing soil to dry out slightly between waterings
- Feed every 2-3 weeks during growing season
- Prune away dead growth as needed
- Monitor for pests like mealybugs and scale
- Overwinter indoors in colder climates
Dipladenia Care Tips
- Tolerates drought periods
- Doesn’t require frequent fertilizing
- Occasional pruning to shape
- Watch for whiteflies and aphids
- Treat as an annual in cold zones
Growth Habit
The growth habit is another consideration, although both vines can be kept around the same size with proper pruning and training. Mandevilla is a twining vine that attaches itself to structures using its foliage. Dipladenia has a looser, scrambling growth habit and appreciates having some sort of trellis or lattice for support. If giving the vines something to climb is not an option, mandevilla may be easier to train into a bush or tree shape. Dipladenia will grow as more of a sprawling mound without significant pruning intervention.
Deer and Pest Resistance
Both mandevilla and dipladenia have good pest and disease resistance when cared for properly. They can however be prone to mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies, and scale if growing conditions become too hot, dry, or crowded. Keeping their soil moist and providing good air circulation can help prevent outbreaks. Consistent monitoring is needed to catch any pests early before they spread. In terms of deer resistance, dipladenia may have an advantage. The ASPCA lists it as “rarely damaged” by deer while mandevilla is not deer resistant.
Location Flexibility
Mandevilla and dipladenia can both be grown in containers or in garden beds. This makes them versatile options for decorating outdoor living spaces. In cold zones, they are excellent for container growing so they can be overwintered indoors. Planting them around patios in pots allows them to be moved for protection as needed. In tropical zones like 9-12, they are also suitable for planting directly in garden beds for a more permanent display. Having this location flexibility makes them easy to incorporate into any outdoor space.
Native Species Support
Those looking to support native species may want to avoid mandevilla and dipladenia. Neither are native North American plants. Mandevilla originates from South America, including Brazil. Dipladenia is also native to Brazil as well as other tropical and subtropical regions. Gardeners aiming to provide food sources for local hummingbirds may want to opt for plant choices native to their region. Some examples include honeysuckle, trumpet vine, coral honeysuckle, and native columbine. However, check if any species are considered invasive in your area.
Conclusion
When weighing all factors, dipladenia may have a slight edge over mandevilla for attracting hummingbirds in many climates. Key advantages like heat tolerance, drought resistance, low maintenance needs, and extended bloom season make it ideal for low effort gardens. Those in tropical regions should strongly consider this unfussy, vigorous grower. Mandevilla works better for areas where high humidity is present, such as the southeastern U.S. Its diversity of flower colors is unparalleled, so it is an excellent option for hummingbird gardens focused on providing varied nectar sources. Give mandevilla some extra care and it will reward you with lush growth and abundant blooms. Either vine makes a wonderful addition to outdoor living spaces frequented by hummingbirds.
