PlantFiles: Purple Allamanda, Rubber Vine
Cryptostegia grandiflora

Our family was recently vacationing in Lake Lure, NC (mountains near Asheville). I came across this plant near one of the pools and just loved it. It was in full bloom, light pink flowers on gracefully draping vines - absolutely stunning. It was not growing on anything else, but rather a freestanding shrub, approx. 5-6 feet tall, 4 feet wide. It had definitely spread, as there were about three smaller, well rooted shrubs beginning close by. I've been looking to ID it all over the internet, as I had never seen it before, and finally found it on this site. Unfortunately, my research makes me think it would not do well in the Shenandoah Valley of North-Western, VA, zone 6, nor would it be a good plant to have in a garden shared with dogs/cats/kids as it is said to be poisonous. I'd love to find out more information.

We have two in our yard..for about two years now, one growing up our only dead tree. Hope it covers it and blooms profusely. I have one one of those weird seed pods on the vine.Gonna experiment with growing with the seeds...totally cool plant i got from a local nursery.

Saw one of these in a very run down lawn in zone 9B. We had temperatures as low as 26 this winter and I'm quite sure it wasnt protected. Looks gorgeous this summer. I saw the owner out in his yard and asked if i could look for seed pods. I found only 6 on 12ft mound. The pod are very very hard to crack both fresh and dried. I'm going to give both dried and fresher seeds a shot and will report what, if any, success I have.

I got my Yellow Allamanda this spring and have enjoyed her flowers all summer long, and now that it's November, she is still in full bloom. This morning I found a seed pod on her! It's the size of a golf ball and is thorny. From what I have found on the web, this pod will dry out and the seed will have a feathery type of puff on them which can be carried via the wind. I'll have to be very careful indeed to catch the seed before they blow away. The use of an old panty hose piece tied around the pod should work fine, just as I do for my Datura seed pods. I'm going to attempt to propogate them and will update if I have any luck. Probably, the tried and true method of soft wood cuttings will be easier, hehehe.

I just recently purchased this plant, about 5 weeks ago. It is doing beautifully, blooming continuously. I new nothing about this plant when I purchased it. I have it planted in a courtyard that isn't very large and after reading how large they grow, I am a little concerned. My plant looks more like a weeping tree and it is about 5 feet tall. I am starting to get loads of seed pods developing instead of flower buds. I don't know if I should pinch these off and more flowers will come or if I should let them develop. My tree also has 11 large seed pods on it already and they are starting to turn brown. Should I let them continue to dry on the tree and also, can you grow another tree from the seed? If anyone has any answers to these questions, I would surely appreciate it. Thanks.

Have one speciman plant that is 15-20'tall and wide. Beautiful when in bloom, have been unable to propogate trying several methods. Was able to find 2 small plants that were volunteers. Have seen no seed pods to plant. Sap is very irritating to skin. Many pluses and minuses with this plant. More positive

As any Asclepiadaceae, be very careful with this plant. Almost 100% of this family´s species are very poisonous if ingested

We first saw Purple Allamanda at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
They had grown into 20' trees with 12" diameter trunks.
We purchased a 4' specimen which we lost at 30 deg. in Central Florida. Bought another, same size, planted it and covered it through several 28-30 deg. nights. It survived. losing only several branch tips, and is now prospering, 6' tall, covered with beautiful purple trumpet-shaped flowers which continually fall as they are replaced by newly-opening buds. Pods develop early June here.