We started growing this dipladenia along the edge of our border fence hoping that one day it would cover it and soften the surrounding view from our lounge window. The bed that it lives in receives no sun at all due to the fence and the neighbour's pergola but it still continues to do well.

In fact, this plant has disregarded its own heritage and is doing everything it shouldn't. It's touted as an annual, as a shrubby non-climber and that it grows in full sun to part shade. Yet this one has been growing in the same spot for nearly 3 years, is climbing well and sees no sun at all. And to top it off it flowers for almost half the year.

Is this surprising? Not really. The dipladenia 'Red Riding Hood', also called Brazilian Jasmine, is a sport from two mandevilla cultivars. A sport is a mutation of a plant(s) rather than being hybridized and so can sometimes have characteristics that aren't always recorded or expected.

It's recommended that they be grown as annual shrubs, propagated from stem or softwood cuttings and that they can be trained on a trellis but a shrub is more likely the way to go. Dipladenia's that are grown in the shade have a more compact growing habit while those in full sun have a more leggy, vine-like appearance.

Dipladenia's need a moderate amount of water making sure their roots don't dry out in summer and should be fertilised prior to flowering (late spring) and again at the end of flowering (early winter).

They make a wonderful small climber or shrub in small gardens.