Bush Allamanda (Allamanda schottii)

Bush allamanda (Allamanda schottii), also called yellow allamanda, is a compact, flowering shrub native to Brazil. A member of the Apocynaceae family, it's prized for its profuse, bright yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers and glossy foliage.

Description

Evergreen shrub 3–5 feet tall and wide (larger in tropics) with a mounding, slightly sprawling habit. Leaves are opposite or in whorls of 3–4, elliptical, glossy, leathery, 2–4 inches long. Flowers are 2–3 inches across, bright yellow, funnel-shaped with 5 spreading lobes, borne in clusters at branch tips. Blooms nearly year-round in warm climates; spring to frost elsewhere. Milky sap.

Growing Conditions

• Zones: 10–11 outdoors; grown as annual/container plant elsewhere.
• Light: Full sun for best bloom; tolerates part shade.
• Soil: Well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic.
• Water: Regular moisture; drought-tolerant once established.
• Temperature: Heat-loving; damaged below 40°F (4°C).

Care & Maintenance

Prune after flowering to shape. Pinch young plants for bushiness. Feed monthly with balanced fertilizer. In containers, overwinter indoors in bright light. Propagate from cuttings.

Uses

Flowering hedge, specimen shrub, foundation planting, large containers, butterfly gardens. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Cautions

All parts are toxic (cardiac glycosides). Milky sap irritates skin and eyes. Wear gloves when pruning. Keep away from children and pets.

Potential Issues

Root rot in wet soil. Mealybugs, scale, spider mites. Leaf drop in cold or drought. Generally tough and floriferous.

A compact, nonstop bloomer for tropical color—handle with care due to toxicity.