Family: Apocynaceae
Allamanda schottii, commonly known as bush allamanda or yellow allamanda, is a hardy evergreen shrub valued for its bright yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom throughout much of the year. Originally from South America, it is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions as an ornamental hedge or landscape plant. In Hawaiʻi, bush allamanda is popular for its dense foliage, low-maintenance growth, and ability to attract pollinators such as butterflies. It is currently noted as potentially naturalizing on Kauaʻi, raising concerns about its potential to spread outside of cultivation.
Because of its similarities to Allamanda cathartica, a species already known to naturalize and become invasive in some regions, bush allamanda could potentially have similar impacts if left unmanaged. Both species are vigorous growers capable of spreading vegetatively and by seed, and they thrive in warm, moist habitats where they may displace native or culturally important plants. While bush allamanda is not yet widely naturalized in Hawaiʻi, continued monitoring and caution are recommended to prevent it from establishing in sensitive ecosystems.
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical/subtropical climates.
- Widely introduced and cultivated as an ornamental.
- Naturalized in areas like Fiji. Potentially Naturalizing on Kaua'i
- Poisonous sap, toxic to humans.
- Spiny, burr-like fruits aid in animal dispersal.
- Tolerates a wide range of soil types.
- Produces viable seeds.
- Related species (A. cathartica) is a known environmental weed.
Low Risk Traits:
- Frost-sensitive, limiting its range.
- Not currently classified as a weed.
- Not parasitic.
- No evidence of toxicity to animals.
- Requires full sun; not shade-tolerant.
- Large, spiny fruits are not dispersed by wind or as a contaminant.
