Mandavilla..not an annual.

I was weeding out grasses out of my 5,6,7, year old red riding hood and noticed the nice trunk. This plant made it through 07,in a pot,out in the open.Never covered. Like the Ponytail palm these are hardy for us and plenty are bought..but I think people toss them out thinking they wont survive a winter.Or, They keep them in too small pots not knowing they would make nice small flowering shrubs planted in ground here.

The following thread was started by stan on August 26, 2008 at 6:06 pm PST

They do get aged looking. Nice Bonsai potential.
Since i took these pics,It's now re planted in fresh soil and trimmed of(07) deadwood.

The above followup was added by s on August 26, 2008 at 6:09 pm PST.

That's amazing. I had always heard that they would "definitely freeze" in our winters. I guess you proved many nursery people wrong!

The above followup was added by Parsec on August 26, 2008 at 8:30 pm PST.

Stan, I must have read your mind. I picked up a couple and put them right into the ground in protected areas. One is in the shade of a big lemon tree and the other flanking an equally large orange.

Yours is quite amazing and inspirational.

The above followup was added by Merbert on August 26, 2008 at 8:46 pm PST.

I have heard that they regrow in the spring... but the one time I did grow it... it died and never came back.... Our winter lows were mild that year.

Jeff

The above followup was added by Jeff on August 27, 2008 at 0:32 am PST.

The "Sun Parasol series"..deep red and more viney,looked even better after this last winter then RedRH. Just do not buy Alice Du Pont..that is a Mandavilla of a true tropical nature.Ok,I havent had one do well.So, i shouldnt say it cant be done.MAybe somebody else in the bay area has one a few years old(i really doubt it!) But as i said RRH and the Red Parasol are winter hardy,evergreen,and allllllmost bloom all year..at least 10 months.
In the Valley they need some summer shade or at least not all day full sun...the flowers wilt over 90-95.
btw,i saw a Alice Du Pont planted outdoors in Hayward last fall..i'm going to have to do a drive by to see if it's still alive.

The above followup was added by STAN on August 27, 2008 at 9:48 am PST.

In addition to Red Sun Parasol and some big white thing, I'm trying the species variety (forgot the name) with the smaller leaves and small very fragrant white flowers. Despite being dug completely out of the ground three times by the chickens (don't ask!) it is still alive.

The above followup was added by Merbert on August 27, 2008 at 12:24 am PST.

is the deciduous vine with fragrant white flowers that is sometimes planted around the bay.

Jason

The above followup was added by JasonT on August 27, 2008 at 2:04 pm PST.

It's quite a lovely plant and I don't see much of it out here in Contra Costa County.

The above followup was added by Merbert on August 27, 2008 at 8:15 pm PST.