Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Saturday - March 24, 2007

From: San Marcos, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Vines
Title: Winter survival of non-native Mandevilla vine
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Last summer I bought a dwarf mandavilla vine that blooms deep red and planted it in a pot and kept in on my east-facing porch, where its tendrils hung over the pot. I had to move it to shelter for the winter, and it's tendrils are long enough now that I'd like to put it in a permanent location and let them wind around something. If I put it in a larger pot on the porch and let it wind around the porch support, I think it will freeze in the winter because it's in a pot. ( The north wind blows around that corner.) Can I plant it in the ground in front of my porch, where it gets some shelter from the north wind, without it freezing next winter? What would I have to do to prevent it from freezing? Can I plant it in the ground in some other area without it freezing? Thanks.

ANSWER:

Our focus and expertise at the Wildflower Center are with plants that are native to North America. The Mandevilla vine (Mandevilla spp.) is native to Brazil and not native to North America. That said, Mr. Smarty Plants can guide you to some sites that should be able to help you find the answers to your question. First of all, mandevilla is recommended for USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11. San Marcos, Texas, is in Zone 8 which means your mandevilla vine is likely to freeze to the ground most winters anywhere outdoors. There is the possibility that it could come out again from the roots in the spring unless it experiences a severe freeze or a particularly hard winter.

Here are a couple of sites that discuss winter care for mandevilla: HortChat.com and Garden-Services.com

 

More Vines Questions

Identification of vine in Ohio
March 26, 2010 - We were in our school's back yard and we found a vine that has green leaves and has a purple stem and we were just trying to figure out what is was? Can you help us out with that!
view the full question and answer

Identity of invasive vine in The Woodlands, Texas
December 02, 2013 - What is the invasive vine covering trees in The Woodlands, Texas?
view the full question and answer

Identification of vine with translucent red berries in Tennessee.
November 30, 2007 - During the month of November I have seem in Nashville, TN a vine which appears to be native or a handed-down plant growing behind a restaurant site on a chain link fence. It was loaded with cluster...
view the full question and answer

Vines to Complement a Fence
April 10, 2012 - I have a 3' weathered picket fence that I want to plant a flowering vine on part of it. The vine must be perennial, tolerate full sun and low watering. Is there anything besides trumpet, cross vine, ...
view the full question and answer

Fast-growing vine for cinder block wall in Albuquerque
July 26, 2010 - I live in Albuquerque, N.M. and have a cement/cinder block wall and was wondering if there is a vine I can plant which will be easy to grow, grow fast and cover my wall without any type of help like a...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.