FNPS Plant Database

Pentalinon luteum

wild allamanda, hammock viperstail
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

wild allamanda, hammock viperstail

Synonym(s):

Urechites lutea

Genus species:

Pentalinon luteum

Family:

Apocynaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

vine

Size:

3 - 12 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms spring through fall.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Grow on a trellis, fence, or post. 

Considerations:

The sap is an irritant to the skin and poisonous if ingested.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Establish from seed or cuttings.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□

Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Short very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

circum-neutral to calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
Click a county The county name will appear here.
No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Larval host of the polka dot wasp moth ( Syntomeida epilais ), but there is a question whether or not that's a native moth as that is the moth that defoliates oleander and desert rose plants.





Skipper butterflies visit the flowers.





Said to attract butterflies.





 

Said to attract hummingbirds.

Native Habitats:

Pine woods, coastal hammocks, edges of coastal marshes.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Pentlute ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


Hammer, Roger. (2015). Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies in Tropical Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

Beta testing new plant sheet (there may be errors):
FNPS Plant Print

Request an update