Pentalinon luteum
 
Common Names Wild Allamanda, Hammock Viper’s-tail, Yellow Mandevilla
 
Zones 10B–11
 
A vigorous, twining native vine of South Florida and the Caribbean, Pentalinon luteum is prized for its bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and glossy evergreen foliage. Found naturally in coastal hammocks and pine rocklands, it thrives in poor soils, salt wind, and intense sun. Its sprawling habit and year-round blooms make it ideal for trellises, fences, and restoration buffers.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Twining vine or vine-like shrub; climbs or sprawls over nearby vegetation
Height: Typically 6–12 ft (1.8–3.6 m); may reach 20 ft with support
Leaves: Opposite; elliptic; leathery; dark green; 2–4 in long; smooth margins
Bark: Herbaceous stems; woody with age; brown and medium-thick
Flowers: Trumpet-shaped; bright yellow; ~2.5 in wide; bloom year-round with peak in summer and fall
Fruit: Inconspicuous; not typically ornamental
Ecology: Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; tolerant of coastal exposure; non-invasive native
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade
Watering: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Soil: Sandy, loamy, or limestone-based; well-drained; acidic to alkaline
Temperature: Sensitive below 35°F (1.6°C); protect from frost
Humidity: High tolerance; thrives in tropical and subtropical climates
Propagation: Seed or cuttings
Tolerance: Salt wind, drought, heat, urban conditions
 
Landscape Use Ideal for coastal trellises, hammock-edge restoration, and tropical borders. Use as a showy vertical accent or sprawling groundcover in native designs. Pairs well with Coccoloba uvifera, Scaevola taccada, and Ipomoea pes-caprae.