Yellow Allamanda Allamanda cathartica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- al-ah-MAN-dah kah-THAR-tik-ah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Allamanda cathartica, or Allamanda, is a genus of tropical, tender, perennial evergreen. There are 15 species of Allamanda found in South and Central America and commonly grown in gardens throughout the tropics, where some species have become naturalised and even invasive. In temperate countries such as the United States, they are grown as greenhouse plants or houseplants for their freely produced, brightly coloured, golden yellow flowers that contrast with the shiny dark green leaves.
Allamanda forms a sprawling shrub or woody climber that tends to sprawl and twine itself around a support and will need to be tied to a trellis or other support. If grown outdoors in the landscape, the plants should be cut back and overwintered as indoor container plants before the first freeze. Note that, once indoors, the plant requires a site with bright light. Whether indoors or out, the plant does require ample moisture and good drainage.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Compacta'
- 'Flone Pleno'
- 'Grandiflora'
- 'Hendersonii'
- 'Williamsii'
- 'Compacta'
- 'Compacta', 'Flone Pleno', 'Grandiflora', 'Hendersonii', 'Williamsii'
- Tags:












- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Compacta'
- 'Flone Pleno'
- 'Grandiflora'
- 'Hendersonii'
- 'Williamsii'
- 'Compacta'
- 'Compacta', 'Flone Pleno', 'Grandiflora', 'Hendersonii', 'Williamsii'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Allamanda
- Species:
- cathartica
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Leaves and roots are used as a laxative and emetic in traditional medicine, but large doses are toxic.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical America, and Brazil
- Distribution:
- Central America, India, Asia
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- moist soil
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Winged seeds inside prickly pods.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are tubular, yellow, and in clusters at ends of branches from summer to fall. Flowers up to around 3 1/2 inches are held in groups of 12 on short branches at the ends of shoots or in the leaf axils.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 2 1/2 inches long, 1 1/2 inch wide, opposite, simple, glossy, and leathery. This vigorous climbing plant has leathery evergreen leaves arranged in whorls of 4 at intervals along the stem and bright yellow flowers.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The stems twine to 19 feet or more and contain milky sap.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Poisonous through: Ingestion, dermatitis. Sap causes skin and eye irritation. TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN; SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Symptoms may include fever, swollen lips, thirst, nausea, diarrhea; skin irritation upon contact with cell sap.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Unknown
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems