| Chilean jasmine | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mandevilla laxa [1] | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Mandevilla |
| Species: | M. laxa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mandevilla laxa | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Mandevilla laxa, commonly known as Chilean jasmine, [3] [4] is a species of flowering and ornamental plant in the dogbane and milkweed family, Apocynaceae.
Mandevilla laxa is native to the fringes of the pantanal in South Brazil, northern Argentina and Bolivia, as well as southern Ecuador and Perú. [4] It grows as a vine and is deciduous in cool climates. It can quickly grow to 6 meters (20 feet) tall, ascending trees, shrubs, and even abandoned barns, sheds, or other disused buildings, among other stationary objects. The vine uses its tendrils for support as it grows. In cultivation, the use of trellises, posts, poles, stakes, or even tomato cages, among other manmade supports, is typically necessary, if a suitable tree, wall or fence is unavailable. The species, and indeed much of the Mandevilla genus, are largely climbers rather than "creepers" or "spillers", and will usually not thrive unless given the ability to grow vertically. Masses of heavily-scented, white flowers are produced in the spring and summer. [3] As it is not fully hardy, and does not survive being frost-covered, in temperate zones, it must be grown with the protection of glass, or in an unheated greenhouse or conservatory, during the colder months. Mandevilla laxa grows best in partial to full sunlight (minimum 6-8 hours per day) with rich, but well-aerated, soil and regular irrigation, allowing the substrate to slightly dry in-between waterings. In the United Kingdom it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [5] [6]
Despite its common name, 'Chilean jasmine', Mandevilla laxa is not a true jasmine nor a false jasmine, at all, those being the genera Jasminum and Trachelospermum, respectively; however, the latter genus is in the same family as Mandevilla—the Apocynaceae.
References
- ^ 1856 illustration from Flore des serres et des jardins de l’Europe by Charles Lemaire and others. Gent, Louis van Houtte, 1856, volume 11 (plate 1142), with the name Mandevilla suaveolens
- ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
- ^ a b "Botanica. The Illustrated AZ of over 10000 garden plants and how to cultivate them", pp. 562-563. Könemann, 2004. ISBN 3-8331-1253-0
- ^ a b "Mandevilla laxa". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Mandevilla laxa". Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 64. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
External links
Media related to
Mandevilla laxa at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to
Mandevilla laxa at Wikispecies
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