Lake Area Nursery, Inc.
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Mandevilla Tropical Dreams
This new cultivar is a naturally-occurring
variegated mutation of a yellow-flowered, solid green-leaf Mandevilla. The
mutation was discovered by John Gray at Lake Area Nursery in Hawthorne, FL USA.
Lake Area Nursery is the exclusive propagator of 'Tropical Dreams'.
It is an upright herbaceous climbing vine. The oblong leaves have a unique green and yellow variegation when young and green and white to ivory variegation when mature. The variegation pattern is irregular and varies from leaf to leaf. It produces clusters(10-15 buds) of large 2-3 inch tubular pinwheel-shaped bright yellow flowers. The variegated cultivar is identical to the green-leaf variety except for the variegated leaves. The yellow Mandevilla is related to Mandevilla Alice Dupont(pink flower) and the Dipladenia.
Mandevilla 'Tropical Dreams' is not as vigorous as Mandevilla Alice Dupont(pink) and is more delicate in the early growth period. Once established it is a very vigorous vine. Care should be taken not to over-pot this cultivar as the root system is slower growing than Alice Dupont. This variety performs virtually identical to the green-leaf yellow Mandevilla. Mandevilla's are climbers and will rapidly climb a trellis, bamboo stake or hanging basket wire.
Peat-lite potting mixes seem to be the best. Use a medium to high rate of fertilizer such as Osmocote 18-6-12 or 14-14-14 and a soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20 as needed. Follow fertilizer directions! They can also be fertilized with just a liquid feed program.
This cultivar may need an adjustment period of light shading after planting before being moved in to full sun. Liners are grown in a full sun double poly house but after shipping may need some adjustment period. Mature established plants flower better in full sun but we have grown mature plants in a 50% shaded greenhouse with good growth but not as heavy flowering. The growth in 50% shade was nice and compact.
This variety grows best at temperatures between 60 (Night) and 80-85F (days). Lower temperatures will slow growth, higher temperatures will speed up growth. Frost and freezing temperatures will kill or severely injure the plant. Remember this is a tropical plant and grows best under those conditions.
Liners can be pinched at planting or at a later date. 'Tropical Dreams" branches well and the more pinches the bushier the plant. Usually 3-4 weeks growth is needed before pinching again. Most Mandevilla bloom year round but blooming appears heavier from April through September. Blooms appear about 2-3 months after final pinch. Blooms usually form on the runners as they begin to climb a trellis. One of the nice qualities of 'Tropical Dreams is that it is a very showy plant even without flowers. The variegation is so unusual that this is its best quality. The height is limited to the height of the trellis. We have a plant that is up to 15 Ft tall and still climbing. We hope you and your customers enjoy Mandevilla 'Tropical Dreams'!
Mandevilla 'Tropical Dreams' is U.S. Plant Patent No. 10653. As a patented plant, its propagation is prohibited by law. To grow your own, you must buy the plant from a licensed grower.
Growers / Retailers, call us to place your order for flats of Tropical Dreams.
Retail customers, please place your orders with our retailers:
Where to Buy Mandevilla 'Tropical Dreams'
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Info@velvetmandevilla.com
352-481-3337