UF/IFAS
Okeechobee County Extension ServiceUF/IFAS
Okeechobee County Extension Service
458 Highway 98 North
Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578
Phone: (863) 763-6469
E- mail: dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu
4 February 2004
Feature Article - for release the week of February 11, 2004
Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent
Colorful Flame Vines
At this time of year, much of our local landscapes lie
dormant, and any splash of color now catches our eye. Some office visitors
have begun to ask about a brilliantly colored vine that is now brightening up
our area. It almost appears as if this wandering plant has burst into fire,
which is why it is know as Flame vine.
Flame vines are now covered with many clusters of bright orange flowers, sometimes attracting hummingbirds. They can be used to advantage on fences and trellises, but if left untamed, can begin crawling over roofs, shrubs and trees. It has escaped cultivation in some areas, and may take some effort to manage if allowed to wander. Today's column will discuss some of the pros and cons of this colorful vine found in our Florida Yards.
This plant grows rapidly, climbing by tendrils, which attach it to anything which can offer good support. It produces a vigorous evergreen mat, covering over everything. It's worth putting up with because of its rampant color: 2 to 3 inch long tubular flowers appear in groups of up to 20 individual flowers. The opening of the flower splits into four petals.
It is properly used on a fence where there are no other trees, shrubs or poles nearby. Flame vine should be planted with caution, as it has been known to cover, and even strangle trees with its rampant growth.
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A beautiful "Flamevined" trellis in downtown Okeechobee, FL. |
Flame vine is attractive to hummingbirds and bees. |
This vine has climbed 40 feet tall on this cabbage palm. |
Growing in full sun to partial shade, Flame vine will tolerate a wide range of soils and has minimal water and fertilizer requirements. Like all vines, it does require yearly maintenance to remove dead wood. Pruning after flowering is a good practice to restrain it. Flame vine will often produce most of the flowers and foliage at the top of the fence. Regular heading back of several of the stems can help develop flowers and foliage on the lower and middle portions of the fence.
Scales, caterpillars, and mites can be a problem for Flame vine. Ask our office to help you choose an appropriate insecticide if you are not able to prune out effected areas.
I have tried propagating this plant by cuttings, but layering of vigorous suckers seemed to give better results. While it produces a few bean-like seed pods, they rarely produce viable seed. It can sometimes be found in local nurseries, and may be purchased in one or three gallon containers for about $10.00. Be sure to ask for it using its botanical name, Pyrostegia venusta. In Latin, this translates to a handsome, fire-covered roof.
There are a few other vining plants that also go by similar
common names. The Mexican Flame
Vine, Senecio confusus, is a rampant
creeping vine which produces numerous orange colored daisy-like flowers. This
plant flowers most often in the heat of the summer, and quickly becomes an
invasive problem if not kept confined to a fence or trellis.
From personal
experience, I can't recommend anyone planting this plant. Another flame vine
is the Orange Flame
vine, Combretum
fruticosum, has single leaves and
its fuzzy flowers appear in the summer and fall. Neither are likely to flower
in the winter or early spring.
We do have UF/IFAS Extension fact sheets on Flame vines. [See the links below] If you need additional information on these plants, come visit our Master Gardeners on Tuesday afternoon or surf our internet page at http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu. Our office is located in Okeechobee at 458 Hwy 98 North, our phone number is (863) 763-6469, and you can email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu.
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References
Gilman, Edward F. Flame Vine (Pyrostegia venusta) (FPS-496). Gainesville: UF/IFAS Extension Service, October, 1999. [A three page Extension Service fact sheet.]
Gilman, Edward F. Mexican Flame Vine Senecio confusus (FPS-545). Gainesville: UF/IFAS Extension Service, October, 1999.
Gilman, Edward F. Orange Flame Vine (Combretum fruticosum ) (FPS-138). Gainesville: UF/IFAS Extension Service, October, 1999.
Hutchinson, Jeff T. Flame Vine (Pyrostegia venusta) Lake Placid: Archibold Biological Station Land Management Program April 2003. [This site helps answer the question, is it really invasive?]
Ramey V. and Murray, A. Pyrostegia venusta Flame vine . Gainesville: UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, 2003.
Swanson, Yvonne. Hanging fire: Clusters of flame vine spread like wildfire; if not controlled, its branches can smother the garden. St. Petersburg Times, 2/18/06. http://www.sptimes.com/2006/02/18/news_pf/Homes/Hanging_fire.shtml
Vandaveer, Chelsie Plant of the Week 09/02/2002 Largo, FL: Killerplants.com website, 2002.
Hello.
I was reading your website and would like more info on this
orange flame vine. Can this be grown in South
Carolina? What are the temperature variations that
this plant can tolerate? If frost is in our area during the
winter, should we cut back? Any additional info you
can provide would be helpful. Was thinking of bringing a
piece of this to our home in SC.
thanks
- JR
