If you are looking for a really beautiful container plant, this is certainly one to consider.
It is available in a shrub variety as well as a climber and colours from white, pale pink, deep rose and dark red.
The Dipladenia likes a sunny position sheltered from the wind.
The soil must be fertile with a good compost added as well as some bone meal - water well after planting and then only when the soil has dried out - these plants like the soil to be well drained as they hate wet feet.
Some varieties have very glossy green leaves.
Once the flowers appear, the plant will continue to produce more flowers throughout most of the growing season.
As already mentioned, these plants are ideal container plants - they can also be planted against a wall to climb up a trellis.
The one in this photo is a climber and for the time being is protected by a wire cage - the protection is from the dog in the home, who loves to pull out some plants.
