Allamanda cathartica (Golden Trumpet Shrub)

Allamanda cathartica yellow flower tree in black plastic pots on grass background

Allamanda cathartica yellow flower clusters on woody stems inside round plastic pots.

Botanical names: Allamanda cathartica, Allamanda nerifolia

Common name: Golden Trumpet Shrub

Family: Apocynaceae

Origin: Tropical America

USDA Zone: 9-11

Plant form: Large bush

Mature height: 5-10 ft

Sun exposure: Full sun or bright light indoor

Cold tolerance: Tolerates light freezing to about 30°F for short periods (mature plants). Young plants must be protected.

Watering: Regular

Flower color: Yellow, orange

Suitable for: Outdoors in the suitable USDA zone; small gardens, containers, and indoor growing

Irritating or toxic: Irritating

Fragrance: Fragrant; perfume plant

Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds

Ethnomedical: Ethnomedical plant, traditionally used in folk or indigenous medicine

Very attractive ever-blooming shrub with bright yellow trumpet-like flowers. Night-scented flowers year-round. Prickly seed pods follow the flowers with winged seeds that fly about when the pod dries and breaks open. Allamanda is perennial in tropical climates and may be treated as an annual or brought inside during cold weather and replanted after danger of frost. The plant has milky sap and is considered poisonous; all parts are highly cathartic (hence the botanical name). Grows well in most soils, but becomes chlorotic in very alkaline conditions. In areas where there is seasonal change, keep fairly dry during winter and prune in spring before growth begins. It may be desirable to prune annually in any case to control for size.