Allamanda

These flowering shrubs are found in abundance all over Barbados, particularly the common yellow and purple variety pictured here. The pink/red specimen is much less common and harder to grow. What has also become very popular in recent years is the dwarf yellow allamanda – the flower is the same just smaller and the whole plant doesn’t grown more than about 2 feet or so in height.

 

I have the purple and the yellow growing in large pots, but they grow equally well in the ground and, in fact, the purple one can be seen growing wild in various parts of the island.

 

The seed pod is clearly shown in one of the images here. Over a period of weeks, it turns brown, dries out and eventually bursts, releasing the delicate seeds for distribution by the wind. I see the purple allamanda putting out seed pods more often than the yellow, perhaps that is whey they seem to grow wild throughout the island.

 

The allamanda flowers have no scent and aren’t suitable for arrangements, but a couple flowers floating in a blow of water is very attractive. Humming birds, bees and other insects feed on the nectar of the allamanda flower. This is a milk plant, so one has to be careful when trimming as the milk will blister the skin.