About
Pyrostegia venusta, the flame vine, is a very vigorous, evergreen climber with numerous slender stems and glossy leaves with pointed, oval leaflets. Tubular, waxy, golden to reddish-orange flowers 6 cm long are produced in terminal clusters, mainly in winter. A spectacular and rewarding tropical climber for a frost-free, sunny wall or heated greenhouse.
About the genus
Pyrostegia are vigorous, evergreen climbers with paired leaves composed of two or three leaflets and terminal clusters of tubular or bell-shaped, orange or red flowers. Grown in frost-free gardens and heated glasshouses.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1B
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitClimbing
FoliageEvergreen
Height8-12 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesSub-tropical
Native toS America
Care notes
CultivationGrow under heated glass in peat-free, loam-based compost with added sharp sand and leaf mould, in full light
PruningPruning group 11 after flowering
PropagationPropagate from seed sown in heat in spring, or root semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer
Pest resistanceMay suffer from scale insects and glasshouse red spider mite
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free