| i got this as a mother's day gift and knew absolutely nothing about it. I planted it beside my front porch because i saw that it would vine, but now i see it's not supposed to stay outside in winter. I live in a zone 8/9 and it has already survived temps of 38-40 degrees and is still flowering. So should i take it up for the winter or would it be ok to just cover it when there is a frost danger? |
| Mandevilla is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 9-11. In Zone 8 mandevilla is typically killed back by frosts but usually grows back from the roots in spring. I'd leave the plant in the ground. When frost kills the top of the plant, cut it away and then mulch over the roots with an insulating layer of straw, pine needles, compost or shredded leaves. In the spring you can brush away the organic mulch and new stems will sprout from the roots. Good luck with your garden! |
