The History of Mandevillas

Mandevillas are native to Mexico, Central America, South America, the West Indies, and parts of the American Southwest. In the late 1830s, an English diplomat and amateur botanist named Henry Mandeville came across colorful blooming vines in the forests of Argentina. He brought a sample back to England and named the plant “Dipladenia,” but the name was changed to "Mandevilla" in his honor a few decades later. Because these tropical vining plants offer large blooms and aren’t difficult to care for, they quickly became popular, especially among beginner gardeners, and can often be seen growing in pots on patios and porches today. Mandevillas were initially all vining plants, but some newer varieties have been bred to be smaller and bushier. In general, older cultivars have larger leaves with a rougher texture, while newer varieties have smaller, glossier leaves that allow the blooms to really shine. Today, there are around 180 Mandevilla species, including the popular 'Alice du Pont' variety, which, interestingly, was named after the wife of Pierre S. du Pont, the Gilded Age businessman who created Longwood Gardens outside Philadelphia.