Mandevilla Hybrid 'Aloha Red'

Mandevilla 'Aloha Red'

Botanical Name: Mandevilla hybrid 'Aloha Red'
Family: Apocynaceae
Origin: Tropical Americas (modern hybrid selection)
Plant Type: Climber & Vine

Overview

A compact, floriferous mandevilla perfect for Adelaide and South Australian courtyards, balconies and warm garden walls. ‘Aloha Red’ covers trellises with bold, velvety red trumpets (golden throat) for months in warm weather while holding glossy foliage. Naturally tidy and easy-care, it delivers a lush, resort feel in pots or in-ground with simple support and regular summer watering.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1.8–3 m H × 1–1.5 m W (climbing/twinning; smaller in pots)
• Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Glossy mid-green, oval leaves; new growth lime-green before deepening; in strong sun/cool nights older leaves can show bronze/olive tints (normal)
• Flowers: Large, vivid red trumpets with yellow throat, spring through autumn; lightly fragrant on warm evenings
  
• Seasonal Interest: Long flowering window (spring–autumn) over evergreen foliage; peak display late spring–summer
• Wildlife Value: Good for Pollinators — nectar draws bees and beneficial insects
• Tolerance: Heat-Tolerant; Coastal-Tolerant (sheltered sites); Frost: tender (light frosts mark foliage—protect below 0 °C); Wind: shelter from hot, drying winds; Drought: needs regular moisture in hot spells; requires free-draining soil
• Planting Density: Trellis/fence: 1 plant per 1–1.5 m; pots/columns: one plant per support
• Pet Friendly: Use caution — milky sap can irritate; ingestion may cause mild GI upset. Keep prunings away from pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (4–6+ hrs sun; afternoon shade helps in inland SA heat)
• Soil: Well-drained loam or sandy loam; improve clay with organic matter/grit; excellent in premium potting mix
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: keep evenly moist; deep soak every 7–10 days in summer (2–3×/week in heatwaves); monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Feed in spring and midsummer with a bloom fertiliser; tip-prune to keep bushy; tie in new shoots; remove spent clusters to tidyMulch in spring; prune after flowering or late winter; fertilise in early spring.
• Lifespan: 5–10+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA; best in Adelaide’s warm, sheltered microclimates
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral; tolerates mildly alkaline if drainage is sharp

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Privacy screening on trellis/strings for a vertical splash of red
• Entrance pots/obelisks for months of colour by the front door
• Sunny courtyards and balcony walls for a lush, tropical vibe

Why You Will Love It

‘Aloha Red’ brings resort-style flower power to Adelaide without demanding much space. The saturated red trumpets glow against glossy foliage from spring well into autumn, transforming fences and pots into living features. With a sunny spot, a support and regular summer drinks, it’s a reliable, high-impact climber for South Australian gardens and balconies.