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Is A Dipladenia A Perennial Or Annual? [Gardening Ideas]

Dipladenia, a perennial or annual, is still confusing as it can be both in different USDA zones and climates. 

Generally, Dipladenia is a deciduous plant that thrives best in USDA zones 9-11 as a perennial. However, you can still grow these plants as a houseplant in a hardiness zone below 9 as it turns out to be evergreen annual in colder climates.

Several cultivars of Dipladenia are available, like Rio Dipladenia, Jasminoids, and many more, with unique colors, sizes, and habits.

This article will resolve your confusion on whether this beautiful plant returns back or you have to start it as a new plant each year.

Where Does Dipladenia Grow Best?

Dipladenia is a perennial vine that thrives best in USDA zones 9-11. These heat-loving plants can grow up to 10 feet tall in warm places.

These deciduous plants demand well-draining sandy or loamy soil and a temperature ranging from 65-70° F.

Dipladenia with lots of red flowers
In warmer hardiness zones, Dipladenia comes back every year.

Moreover, growing the Dipladenia in 6-8 hours of full sunlight daily is best to enjoy their bright red, pink, or white conical blossoms.

No worries if you love these flowers and are from USDA zones lower than 9, as you can grow them as annuals in the form of houseplants.

Dipladenia As Annual

Dipladenia is a tropical plant native to Central and South America that can’t tolerate temperatures below 40°F.

Thus, Dipladenia becomes an annual plant in the temperate region, as freezing conditions may be the primary factor for the plant’s death.

However, you can plant it in the late winter and early spring to enjoy its showy blossoms in summer and fall.

Also,  as the cold winter starts, you can still grow Dipladenia as a houseplant in containers and hanging baskets.

Although it’s an annual plant in the cold zones, regular fertilization, watering, and deadheading of the spent flowers will boost the blooms.

Dipladenia As Perennial

If you live in a region with a temperature ranging from 60-75°F, Dipladenia can be an excellent addition to your outdoor garden.

Dipladenia loves warm and humid climates, and you can grow it as a perennial for several years if you live in a tropical climate.

In such regions, these plants can grow a 10-15 feet long vine with a bushy appearance and big, bright flowers repeatedly until winter.

Maintain your garden with well-draining soil rich in organic matter, and plant your Dipladenia in a spot with full sun to enjoy it for several years. 

How Do You Take Care of a Dipladenia in the Winter?

Dipladenia won’t survive in the colder zones as the cold winter begins. In the warmer zones, it dies back and returns in the spring.

In USDA zones lower than 9, place the plant indoors in south facing window and safe from dry indoor air. But you must care for them even if you live in a hardiness zone 9-11. 

  • Use frost blankets or mulch around the base of the plant to protect them from freezing.
  • Prune 1/3 of the plant and pinch the stem tips before the new growth starts to encourage growth.
  • If you place it indoors, keep the plant away from cold drafts, heating vents, etc.
  • Stop fertilizing and watering during winter and use balanced fertilizer during the growing season every two weeks.
  • Regularly inspect the pests and diseases and use pesticides, fungicides, and neem oil weekly in case of invasion.

From Editorial Team

Don’t Be Confused Between Mandevilla and Dipladenia!

Dipladenia is often confused with Mandevilla due to their similar appearance at first glance and the same family, Apocynaceae.

However, flowers in Dipladenia are shorter and broader than Mandevilla, with a long tubular flower.

Moreover, oval-shaped glabrous leaves in Dipladenia look totally different from the tapered, less glossy leaves of Mandevilla.

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