The Mandevilla vine, a tropical native admired for its lush foliage and trumpet-shaped flowers, is a popular choice for seasonal container gardening. Its natural climbing habit and continuous summer blooming make it an excellent focal point on patios and balconies. Combining it with other species in a single pot creates a more complex and visually appealing display. The goal is to pair plants that enhance its beauty while thriving under identical growing conditions.
Essential Shared Growing Conditions
Successful mixed container planting requires selecting companions that share the Mandevilla’s specific environmental requirements. This tropical vine demands high light exposure to produce abundant flowers, meaning companion plants must tolerate a minimum of six hours of direct sun daily. Less light results in fewer Mandevilla blooms.
Consistent moisture is another shared necessity, as Mandevilla does not tolerate drying out completely, especially when actively growing in warm weather. However, the soil must remain well-draining to prevent waterlogged roots, which can quickly lead to root rot. Since Mandevilla is a tender perennial or annual in most climates, companions must also tolerate high summer heat. They should be brought indoors or treated as annuals when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Companion Plants for Trailing and Spilling
To balance the Mandevilla’s upward growth, the container composition needs plants that trail and spill over the pot’s edge. These “spiller” plants cover the container’s rim and soften the transition to the ground. The Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas) is an excellent choice, offering dramatic foliage in chartreuse, deep purple, or bronze tones that contrast sharply with the Mandevilla’s green leaves.
Bacopa is a delicate option, producing a profusion of small white, pink, or blue flowers that fill the spaces between the Mandevilla’s stems. For textural contrast, consider Dichondra ‘Silver Falls,’ known for its cascading stems covered in small, fan-shaped silvery leaves. This silvery hue provides a cooling visual effect against the Mandevilla’s vibrant flowers, and its sun tolerance matches the vine’s needs.
Trailing plants like Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) also work well, providing bright, coin-shaped chartreuse foliage that spills quickly over the edge. These trailing selections possess a vigorous growth habit that keeps pace with the Mandevilla without being overwhelmed. They utilize the vertical space along the sides of the container, completing the layered look.
Companion Plants for Height and Fill
The middle layer, known as the “filler,” consists of mounding plants that provide body and color around the Mandevilla’s base. Upright Geraniums (Pelargonium) are ideal fillers because their dense, rounded shape thrives in hot, sunny conditions, aligning perfectly with the Mandevilla’s requirements. Their robust flowers offer a different bloom shape and texture, preventing the composition from looking monotonous.
Lantana is a highly recommended companion, known for its exceptional heat tolerance and clusters of small, multi-hued flowers. This plant forms a bushy mound that fills the space below the vine, attracting pollinators and adding continuous color. Selecting a sun-tolerant Coleus variety, grown for its dramatic, patterned foliage, can introduce deep maroons, oranges, or reds to the arrangement.
Even in large pots, foliage contrast is achieved using plants such as Caladium, provided the container receives some afternoon shade to protect the delicate leaves. These plants introduce large, heart-shaped leaves with unique veining and colors, adding a tropical texture that complements the Mandevilla’s lushness. These mounding species ensure the pot looks full and vibrant from all angles, supporting the vine’s climbing efforts.
Designing Your Mixed Mandevilla Pot
The physical assembly requires a pot large enough to support the root systems of all chosen plants, as Mandevilla develops a substantial root mass. A container with a diameter of at least 14 to 16 inches is necessary to prevent rapid drying and root crowding. Position the Mandevilla near the center or toward the back of the pot, allowing space for its eventual support structure, such as a small trellis or cage.
The filler plants should be arranged in a ring around the Mandevilla, creating a dense collar of foliage and color. The trailing plants are placed along the outer edges of the pot, positioned to cascade over the rim immediately after planting. Because Mandevilla and its companions are vigorous growers, they are heavy feeders and require consistent fertilization throughout the growing season. A slow-release granular fertilizer applied at planting, followed by a diluted liquid feed every two to three weeks, maximizes blooms. The high volume of plant material necessitates daily monitoring of soil moisture during the hottest summer months.