Family: Apocynaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Mandevilla sanderi (commonly known as dipladenia or Brazilian jasmine) is a tropical flowering vine native to Brazil, specifically the Rio de Janeiro region. It is prized for its glossy green leaves and showy, trumpet-shaped flowers that come in shades of pink, red, and white. This ornamental plant is widely grown in warm climates and as a container or patio plant in cooler regions, where it can be brought indoors during colder months. It is popular in landscaping for trellises, fences, and hanging baskets due to its long blooming season and attractive, tropical appearance.

Risks & Threats
Mandevilla sanderi is considered a low-risk ornamental species with limited potential to become invasive. It is not known to aggressively spread or naturalize in most environments, including similar climates to Hawaii. However, like many ornamental vines, it should still be monitored when planted outdoors in suitable tropical conditions, as escape from cultivation is always possible under the right circumstances. Overall, it poses minimal ecological threat, and with responsible use in gardens and landscapes, it is unlikely to negatively impact native ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Congeneric Weed (Mandevilla laxa)
  
• Toxic properties
  
• Tolerates many soil conditions (and potentially able to exploit many different habitat types)
  
• Intentionally planted by people (increases chances of escape)
  
• Seed (if produced) dispersed whole by wind

Low Risk Traits:

• No records of naturalization or invasiveness reported
  
• Unarmed
  
• Requires full sun
  
• Fruit and seed rarely, if ever, produced in cultivation
  
• Lack of seed production minimizes risk of escape
  
• Landscaping and ornamental value