Also known as Common Trumpetvine, Yellow Allamanda, Buttercup Flower
Golden trumpet is an evergreen scandent shrub celebrated across the tropics for its prolific, brilliant yellow blossoms that flare into broad five-lobed trumpets. Stems produce a thick milky latex when snapped and climb aggressively through surrounding vegetation using sprawling branch tips rather than twining tendrils. While valued globally as an ornamental hedge or trellis cover, it spreads rapidly in humid climates and can form dense thickets that smother native vegetation along riverbanks and disturbed forests.
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic
Predators
Broad Mite
Whitefly
Allamanda Aphid
ThreatsHabitat clearance in native range, though globally secure and invasive elsewhere
HabitatsRiverbanks, forest margins, roadsides, disturbed areas, and cultivated gardens
Life span10 to 20 years
Classification
OrderGentianales
FamilyApocynaceae
GenusAllamanda
SpeciesAllamanda cathartica
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Milky sap irritates sensitive skin, and all plant parts are toxic if ingested; avoid contact.
Why it is dangerous
Contains toxic iridoids such as plumericin that induce severe vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping, alongside caustic latex that triggers dermatitis.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for large, bright yellow funnel-shaped blooms paired with whorls of glossy, leathery green leaves that leak white latex when cut.
What to do
Wash skin immediately if exposed to the milky sap, and wash pruners thoroughly after cutting back vines.
Responsible observation
Gloves Required: Wear protective gardening gloves when pruning to avoid contact with irritating latex.
Support Needs: Train sprawling stems against sturdy trellises or arbors to manage heavy growth.
Pet Safety: Keep companion animals from chewing stems or foliage to prevent poisoning.
