Pyrostegia

( pye - roh - STEH - ghee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Known under the common name Flame Vine, this evergreen vine needs full sun and moderate water. The flowers will attract birds to your garden. This vine forms voluptuous clusters of orange tube flowers in fall through spring. Flame Vine is native to South America, and climbs via tendrils. Foot-long seed capsules follow bloom. The genus Pyrostegia is a member of the plant family Bignoniaceae and includes just 2 species, only one of which is commonly cultivated as a garden ornamental (Pyrostegia venusta)These can reach 20-40 feet and grow best in zones 13, 16, 21-24, H1 and H2 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

Caring for Pyrostegia Vines

Plant these vines in full sun; they should be getting between 6 and 8 hours per day for best flowering and foliage growth. Plant against a south-facing or west-facing wall for best results. These vines prefer well-draining soil with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (neutral to acidic). If local soils are compacted, do not drain well, or are particularly poor in nutrients, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic matter or compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant after installation, ensuring that mulch stays at least a few inches away from the stems. This will increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a constant soil temperature.

Keep the soil moist while plants establish a strong root system; mature plants are considered drought-tolerant, but will flower the best with at least a couple of supplemental waterings in spring and summer. Foliage can be trimmed back at any time of the year to control growth and remove dead, damaged and diseased stems and leaves. Doing so will keep the plant at its healthiest form. Pinch young plants to encourage a bushy habit to form. Fertilize plants yearly for the best show of blooms with a dressing of organic compost applied around the base of the vine. Work the compost into the soil a bit, and then replace the mulch around the base.

Propagation

Although these vines can be propagated through cuttings as well as via seed, propagation by cutting is so simple and straightforward (and successful) that cutting is a better option in most cases. To propagate your Flame Vine, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Pyrostegia by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.