A Gardener’s Dream

Here’s a new dwarf shrub that’s almost too good to be true. Dipladenia Red Riding Hood, a cousin of the beautiful but infamous climbing vine Mandevilla, has stunning tube-shaped cherry red flowers, glossy green foliage and sturdy growth. Unlike Mandevilla, it grows vigorously and is not stingy with its blooms. What’s more, insects and diseases ignore it. This new dwarf shrub will be effective in a patio pot or hanging basket because it stays compact and blooms continuously. Along the coast, it likes full sun; inland, it requires some shade from midday sun. If it begins to vine, it’s getting too much shade; if its leaves become light green, it’s getting too much sun. In a pot, it needs regular fertilizer and pinching to keep it bushy. Red Riding Hood is available at many garden centers.