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High Invasion Risk - Central, North, South

Pyrostegia venusta Flame Vine

Edward F. Gilman, Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen

Introduction

Also known as Pyrostegia ignea, Flame Vine grows rapidly. Climbing by tendrils, this vigorous evergreen vine makes a brilliant fall and winter display of reddish orange, 3 inch long tubular flowers borne in clusters of 15 to 20. Covering everything that can offer a good support, flame vine should be planted with caution because it has been known to cover, then strangle, trees with its rampant growth. It has escaped cultivation in much of central Florida and is often seen in flower during the winter and spring, growing in trees. It can be found occasionally in the southern parts of hardiness zone 8b. Heavy or frequent pruning is needed to restrain it to trellises or arbors, but the brilliant flower display makes this extra work worth the effort. It is ideal for covering fences but will often produce most of the flowers and foliage at the top of the fence. Regularly heading back several of the stems can help develop some of the flowers and foliage on the lower and middle portions of the fence.

Full Form - Pyrostegia venusta: Flame Vine
Figure 1. Full Form - Pyrostegia venusta: Flame vine.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

 

Leaf - Pyrostegia venusta: Flame Vine
Figure 2. Leaf - Pyrostegia venusta: Flame vine.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

 

Flower - Pyrostegia venusta: Flame Vine
Figure 3. Flower - Pyrostegia venusta: Flame vine.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

General Information

Scientific name: Pyrostegia venusta

Pronunciation: pye-roe-STEEG-ee-uh ven-NUSS-tuh

Common name(s): flame vine, flame flower, flamingo trumpet

Family: Bignoniaceae

Plant type: vine

USDA hardiness zones: 9 through 11 (Figure 4)

Planting month for zone 9: year-round

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year-round

Origin: native to South America

Invasive potential: not considered a problem species at this time and may be recommended by UF/IFAS faculty (reassess in 10 years)

Uses: espalier

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Figure 4. Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Credit:

Description

Height: depends upon supporting structure

Spread: depends upon supporting structure

Plant habit: spreading

Plant density: dense

Growth rate: fast

Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite

Leaf type: palmately compound

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: ovate

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no fall color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: orange

Flower characteristic: winter flowering; fall flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: elongated

Fruit length: 6 to 12 inches

Fruit cover: dry or hard

Fruit color: unknown

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: usually with one stem/trunk

Current year stem/twig color: brown

Current year stem/twig thickness: thin

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun

Soil tolerances: alkaline; clay; sand; acidic; loam

Drought tolerance: high

Soil salt tolerances: poor

Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable

Winter interest: plant has winter interest due to unusual form, nice persistent fruits, showy winter trunk, or winter flowers

Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more

Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant

Use and Management

Growing in full sun to partial shade, Flame Vine will tolerate a wide range of soils. Flame Vine sometimes flowers lightly during the summer.

Propagation is by cuttings or layering.

Pests and Diseases

Scales, caterpillars, and mites can be a problem for Flame Vine.

IFAS Assessment

Central, North, South

High Invasion Risk

Predicted to be invasive and not recommended by IFAS. Will be reassessed every 10 years. In particular cases, this species may be considered for use under specific management practices that have been approved by the IFAS Invasive Plant Working Group.

view assessment

Publication #FPS496

Release Date:January 18, 2024

Related Collections

Part of Shrubs Fact Sheets

Related Topics

  • Critical Issue: Agricultural and Food Systems
Organism ID

About this Publication

This document is FPS496, one of a series of the Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 1999. Revised October 2023. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Edward F. Gilman, professor emeritus; Ryan W. Klein, assistant professor, arboriculture; and Gail Hansen, professor, sustainable landscape design; Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Gail Hansen de Chapman
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