Flowers

Mandevilla: Timing, Spacing, Care & Bloom

Quick answer

Transplant / set out after last spring frost (Clemson/UMD). Bring indoors before first freeze.Safety: milky sap can irritate skin and may be toxic if eaten (UF).

Mandevilla at a glance

PlantTransplant: last frost
SunFull sun to part sun; well-drained.
SpacingTrellis or support for climbing types; containers for overwintering.
Days to bloomBloom season
-3-2-1LF+1+2+3
■ Start indoors   ■ Plant out   ■ Harvest
Weeks relative to last frost (LF). Colored weeks show when our ZIP planner schedules each step.
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Updated

Tropical vine: grown as a container annual outdoors in frost country; best night/indoor temps around 65–70°F (NC) — culture words, not a Start frost-week rule.

Safety: milky sap can irritate skin and may be toxic if eaten (UF). Wear gloves when pruning; keep out of reach of pets and children.

Mandevilla flower
Mandevilla (Mandevilla sanderi). Photo: CTHOE, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized).

Sourced from university extension guides. For dates where you live, use the ZIP planting planner.

Planting timing

Clemson: plant outdoors after the last spring freeze / freezing threat has passed; bring indoors before the first freeze. (Clemson mandevilla) UMD: move tropicals outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. (UMD overwintering tropicals) NC: cold sensitive; container outdoors; bring in with frost. (NC Mandevilla) No sourced seed Start frost weeks — nursery plants / cuttings. Planner: Transplant 0.

Depth and spacing

Trellis or support for climbing types; containers for overwintering.

Sun, soil and water

Full sun to part sun; well-drained. Night indoor about 60–65°F (Clemson culture words).

Care and bloom

Bring containers indoors before first freeze. Mealybugs and spider mites possible (UMD).

Pests and diseases

Mealybugs/spider mites (UMD). Cultural inspection when moving indoors.

Safety

UF: milky sap can irritate skin and may be toxic if eaten. (UF mandevilla) Wear gloves; do not ingest.

Related: ZIP planner · planting calendars · banana

Frequently asked questions

When outside?

After last spring frost (0 — Clemson/UMD).

Indoors when?

Before first freeze.

Is sap safe?

No — can irritate skin and may be toxic if eaten (UF).

Sources