Mandevilla: How to Protect This Tropical Beauty during winter

Mandevilla is a stunning subtropical plant that loves warm temperatures but needs special care when the cold rolls in.

Known for its vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of red, pink, and white, this low-maintenance tropical plant adds a pop of color all summer long. You can find mandevilla in both vining and bushy varieties, making it perfect for container gardening or as a statement in your landscape beds.

However, if you live in a region that experiences frosty winters or freezing temps (anything below 32°F), you'll need to decide how to handle your mandevilla when winter approaches. Here are a couple of options:

Option 1: Treat it as an Annual

In areas with cold winters, some gardeners choose to treat mandevilla as an annual, meaning they allow it to die off at the end of the season. Since it thrives in heat, mandevilla will wither and eventually die once exposed to freezing temperatures. If you'd rather start fresh each year, this is the simplest option.

Option 2: Bring it Indoors

For those who want to keep their mandevilla from year to year, you can overwinter it indoors and treat it like a houseplant. As the nights start getting cooler, bring your mandevilla inside before temperatures drop too low. A sunny window is ideal, as this plant still needs plenty of light. You may also need to reduce watering since growth slows down in winter.

Warm-Winter Zones

If you live in a warm region where winter temperatures stay above freezing, you're in luck! You can keep your mandevilla outdoors year-round. However, because mandevilla loves the heat, it may not bloom as vigorously in the cooler months. Don’t worry, though—it should survive and bounce back with full blooms when the weather warms up again.

 Get tips for bringing mandevilla inside for winter.