• Photo of Allamanda cathartica (Allamanda catharticas)

Plant Profile: Allamanda cathartica

Taxonomy: Allamanda cathartica

Names

Allamanda, Golden-Trumpet, Golden Trumpet Vine, Yellow Allamanda

  • Photo of Allamanda cathartica (Allamanda catharticas)

Phonetic Spelling:al-ah-MAN-dah kah-THAR-tik-ah

Genus:Allamanda

Species:cathartica

Family:Apocynaceae

Allamanda cathartica, commonly referred to as Allamanda, is a genus of tropical, tender, perennial evergreens. This genus comprises 15 species native to South and Central America, and they are frequently cultivated in gardens across tropical regions, where some varieties have become naturalized and even invasive. In temperate regions like the United States, Allamanda is typically grown as a greenhouse or houseplant, prized for its abundant, vibrant golden yellow flowers that beautifully contrast with its glossy dark green foliage.

Allamanda typically grows as a sprawling shrub or woody climber, often requiring support as it tends to spread and entwine around structures. When cultivated outdoors, these plants should be pruned and brought indoors as container plants before the first frost. It is essential to place them in a location with bright light once inside. Regardless of whether they are indoors or outdoors, Allamanda plants need sufficient moisture and well-draining soil to thrive.

Regarding plant health, there are currently no known diseases or insect pests affecting Allamanda.

Allamanda cathartica Feature Summary

Allamanda cathartica Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#showy flowers
#yellow
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#houseplant
#annual
#fall flowers
#shrub
#yellow flowers
#fall interest
#fast growing
#vines
#summer flowers
#tender perennial
#tropical feel

Similar Plants

Allamanda cathartica is often confused with:

Allamanda cathartica Feature Summary

Attributes
Leaves and roots are used as a laxative and emetic in traditional medicine, but large doses are toxic.
Tropical America, and Brazil
Central America, India, Asia
Perennial
Woody
Annual
Fruit
Winged seeds inside prickly pods.
Flowers
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.
Gold/Yellow
3-6 inches
Leaves
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.
Opposite
Whorled
Lanceolate
1-3 inches
Glossy
Leathery
1-3 inches
Stem
The stems twine to 19 feet or more and contain milky sap.
Straight
Poisonous to Humans
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.
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Poisonous
Vine
Houseplant
Spreading
Creeping
Climbing
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Wet
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Container
Houseplants
Poisonous to Humans

Allamanda cathartica Attributes

Allamanda cathartica: Uses (Ethnobotany)

Leaves and roots are used as a laxative and emetic in traditional medicine, but large doses are toxic.

Allamanda cathartica: Country Or Region Of Origin

Tropical America, and Brazil

Allamanda cathartica: Distribution

Central America, India, Asia

Allamanda cathartica: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

moist soil

Allamanda cathartica: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Allamanda cathartica: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Allamanda cathartica: Climbing Method

Clinging
Scrambler
Tendrils
Twining

Allamanda cathartica Fruit

Allamanda cathartica: Fruit Description

Winged seeds inside prickly pods.

Allamanda cathartica Flowers

Allamanda cathartica: 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.

Allamanda cathartica: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Allamanda cathartica: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Allamanda cathartica: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Allamanda cathartica: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Allamanda cathartica: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Allamanda cathartica: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Allamanda cathartica Leaves

Allamanda cathartica: 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.

Allamanda cathartica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Allamanda cathartica: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Allamanda cathartica: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Allamanda cathartica: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Allamanda cathartica: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Allamanda cathartica: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Allamanda cathartica: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Allamanda cathartica: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Allamanda cathartica: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Allamanda cathartica Stem

Allamanda cathartica: Stem Description

The stems twine to 19 feet or more and contain milky sap.

Allamanda cathartica: Stem Color

grass
Green

Allamanda cathartica: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Allamanda cathartica: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Allamanda cathartica: Stem Form

Straight
Zig Zags

Allamanda cathartica Poisonous to Humans

Allamanda cathartica: 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.

Allamanda cathartica: Poison Toxic Principle

Unknown

Allamanda cathartica: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Allamanda cathartica: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Allamanda cathartica: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Allamanda cathartica Whole Plant Traits

Allamanda cathartica: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Allamanda cathartica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Allamanda cathartica: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Allamanda cathartica: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Allamanda cathartica: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Allamanda cathartica: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Allamanda cathartica Cultural Conditions

Allamanda cathartica: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Allamanda cathartica: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Allamanda cathartica: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Allamanda cathartica Landscape

Allamanda cathartica: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Allamanda cathartica: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Allamanda cathartica: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy