Allamanda Cathartica

Golden Trumpet, Allamanda Cathartica

This is one of the most beautiful ornamental plant to have, yet what lies beneath its beauty is the amazing fact that it is has both medicinal value and if not properly prepared, can be toxic at the same time.

The outstanding beauty of Allamanda Cathartica, what is commonly known as Golden Trumpet, Yellow Bell, or Buttercup Flower, made it the official flower of the City of Canóvanas in the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico, where it is proudly displayed as the city's seal in the downtown plaza.

This is because the beautiful yellow bell-like flowers of the Cathartica Allamanda plant grows in profusion in this city. It was named after an 18th century Swiss Botanist, Dr. Frederich Allamanda.

The allamanda cathartica is a perennial shrub that can grow up to a height of up to 15 feet tall or more.

Its most distinguishable part is its yellow bell-like flowers that are about 5 to 7.5 centimeters in diameter.

The allamanda cathartica has been cultivated to produce larger blooms of different colors such as orange, white, purple or pink.

These funnel shaped buttercup colored flowers normally grow prolifically at the ends of the branches.

The fruits are similar to prickly capsules and it produces winged seed. When given support, it can trail like a vine. The flowers emit a delicate and fruit sweet scent.

Cultivation and Culture

Native to Brazil, this plant is commonly found growing along riverbanks and other similar areas.

• A sun loving plant, it can tolerate light shade but will not do well in shaded areas.

• Though it can tolerate most kinds of soil with good drainage properties, it does not thrive well in alkaline soil.

• It is more of a summer plant and will freeze at 30 degrees Farenheight.

You would have to keep the ornamental plant dry during the winter season and prune it in springtime to prepare it for regrowth.

It will grow rapidly when given the right environment with a rate of 1 to 2 meters annually. Propagation may be done from seeds or cuttings done during the warm months.

Ornamental Use

The Golden Trumpet is primarily used as a landscape ornamental plant as it can be trained to grow up a trellis, tree or any similar kinds of support.

In places that experience cold winters, the Allamanda can be grown inside the house as a container plant. It can be presented as a shrub, but need regular pruning to keep the desired effect.

It can also be grown as a hedge plant or even grown as trees. The versatile and easy to maintain nature of this plant makes it one of the ideal plants to use in any landscape.

Toxicity and Medicinal Properties

Though it has notable medicinal properties, all the parts of the allamanda cathartica are to be considered as poisonous.

This warning is not be left unheeded because of its highly cathartic toxins. The milky sap of the plant that oozes out when broken can irritate the skin.

There are some cultures like that of the Suriname, which uses this plant to relieve coughs. The leaves are boiled and the vapor is inhaled to clear the nasal passages.

The leaves where also made into decoctions for use as a purgative. This plant has anti-bacterial and anti-cancerous properties. It was also widely used in the treatment of jaundice.

Processing this allamanda cathartica plant as an herbal remedy is not recommended to be done by people who have little or no experience in alternative medicine.

To get the full medicinal benefits of this allamanda cathartica, you may be able to buy herbal products made with to ensure that it is safe.

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