Mandevilla laxa Chilean jasmine in pot

Credit: I. Munsinger

Green foliage Mandevilla laxa

Credit: Joe Dillon

White flowers Mandevilla laxa

Credit: K. Golik

White trumpet flowers Mandevilla laxa

Credit: T. Carranza Perales

Mandevilla laxa, the Chilean jasmine

Scientific classification

Family

Apocynaceae

Type

Mandevilla

Species

Mandevilla laxa

Other names:Amblyanthera bridgesii, Amblyanthera suaveolens, Echites suaveolens, Mandevilla bangii, Mandevilla bridgesii, Mandevilla mandonii, Mandevilla suaveolens, Mandevilla tweedieana

Wrongly nicknamed Chilean jasmine, Mandevilla laxa actually grows from Peru to northern Argentina. Its long, fragrant blooms delight gardeners, bees and foraging insects alike.

How to recognize the Chilean jasmine (Mandevilla laxa)?

Mandevilla laxa is a climbing, flowering perennial capable of reaching heights of over 5 meters and a spread of 3 meters.

Its voluble stems cling easily to all types of support and become woody at the base over time.

Unlike Dipladenia splendens (Mandevilla splendens), Mandevilla laxa has deciduous foliage. Its elongated, almost heart-shaped green leaves take on orange or bronze hues in autumn, before dropping off in winter.

Flowering lasts several weeks, from June to October. White, funnel-shaped flowers with yellow centers appear in bunches at the tips of the branches. Their fragrance is reminiscent of jasmine, attracting pollinators and bees.

After flowering, the plant produces long, bean-like fruits containing silken seeds.

Is Chilean jasmine (Mandevilla laxa) toxic?

Plants of the Mandevilla genus are toxic on ingestion and contact. They contain a white latex that causes :

Skin and mucous membrane irritation;
Digestive disorders.

Make sure your pets don't nibble your plant, and wear gloves when pruning or repotting your Mandevilla laxa.

Our maintenance tips

Mandevilla laxa are cold-weather plants. Grow them in pots so you can bring them inside when it's cold.

You can also plant them in the ground and treat them as annuals: in this case, you'll need to renew them every year.

Watering

Water your plant generously during the growing season.

Allow the rootball to dry out to one centimeter between waterings. Water generously with non-calcareous water (rainwater, for example) at room temperature.

Drain off any excess water left in the dish or planter. It can rot the roots.

Reduce watering during dormancy.

Potted plants need regular watering. However, to avoid root rot, allow the substrate to dry out between waterings.

You can use mains water. If it's hard, use reclaimed rainwater instead.

Don't forget to remove any stagnant water from the dish.

Spray

In nature, mandevilla laxa benefits from a high degree of humidity. Spray your Mandevilla laxa withrainwater to improve humidity and prevent pest infestation.

Don' t use hard water, such as tap water. It leaves white spots on the foliage.

Repotting

Place a drainage layer (clay balls, gravel) at the bottom of a pierced pot.

Pour in a bed of potting soil for flowering plants or geraniums. You can add perlite or sand to lighten it. If you want your plant to climb, install your stake.

Plant your Mandevilla laxa and add substrate. Stop a few centimetres before the edge to form a watering trough.

Water at room temperature to encourage rooting.

Fertilization

To promote the growth of your Mandevilla laxa, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.

Apply a flowering plant or geranium fertilizer to encourage flowering.

Prune

Remove the flowers when they have wilted to encourage the plant to bloom again.

Cut back the stems to three or four nodes so that your Mandevilla laxa branches out. This will also encourage flowering.

Caution: the plant is toxic! Wear gloves and rinse your shears after pruning!

Plantation

When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.

Leave your Mandevilla laxa root ball to soak.

Dig a hole three times the size of the root ball. If you're planting several specimens, space them 20 to 30 centimetres apart. You can use stakes if you wish to grow your Mandevilla laxa as a climbing plant.

Plant your Mandevilla laxa. Fill in the hole with garden soil enriched with a little compost and water.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Select a healthy stem at the top. Using clean, sharp pruning shears, remove a section about 15 centimetres long, without flowers and with several nodes.

Remove the leaves at the base. Keep only the top pair.

The plant is toxic. Wear gloves and clean tools after use.

Prepare a pierced pot adapted to the size of your cutting. Fill it with a rich, well-drained substrate. You can use potting soil for seedlings and plantations, for example.

Make a pilot hole with a pencil or pick. Plant your Mandevilla laxa. Water to encourage rooting.

Cuttings are more likely to succeed when smothered. Place your pot in a mini-greenhouse or translucent plastic bag. You can also use a pre-cut bottle.

Mist the substrate regularly to keep it moist, and aerate your cutting for a few minutes each day to prevent rotting.

Remove the cover when the first leaves appear.

Diseases / Threats

Aphids

Red spiders

Mealybug, accompanied by ants for its honeydew.

Mealybugs

Information

Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Deciduous
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs
Categories	Shrub Climber Flowery
Tags	Flowery Fritillary Toxic
Origin	South America
Hardiness (USDA)	9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
Leaf color
Flower colors