Pyrostegia venusta aka Flamevine

Pyrostegia venusta, or flame vine, belongs to the Bignoniaceae family. Its native range runs from Mexico to northern Argentina. This evergreen climber grows fast and forms a dense screen. Tendrils and twining growth help it climb nearby plants and supports. Garden plants reach about 26–39 feet [8–12 metres] tall. Their spread reaches about 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres]. Size also depends on the support they climb. Other accounts give heights of 49 feet [15 metres]. Stems can reach 79 feet [24 metres] long.

The plant branches freely and has many thin stems. Young twigs are brown, while the leaves stay green year-round. The glossy leaves have pointed, oval leaflets with smooth edges. Leaves sit opposite, or nearly opposite, along the stems. They are compound, with leaf blades about two to four inches long. Some leaves form a tendril in place of the middle leaflet. The foliage has no marked change of colour in autumn.

Flower clusters form at the ends of the stems. Each cluster can hold 15 to 20 tubular blooms. Their waxy petals range from gold-orange to reddish orange. Flowers measure about two to three inches long. The main display comes in autumn and winter. Plants may also bloom in spring, with lighter flowering in summer. The dry, hard fruits are long and narrow. They measure six to twelve inches and draw little attention.

Grow this vine in full sun or partial shade. It accepts sand, loam, and clay, across a broad pH range. RHS recommends moist soil that drains well and a sheltered site. Established plants cope well with drought, but tolerate salt poorly. Useful Tropical Plants reports that a dry spell helps trigger bloom. UF/IFAS lists USDA zones 9–11, with occasional plants in southern zone 8b. RHS rates it H1B and recommends heated glass in Britain. Use peat-free, loam-based compost with sand and leaf mould under glass.

Flame vine can cover fences, arbors, and trellises, or form a screen. Flowers and leaves may gather near the top of fences. Prune after flowering; frequent cuts may be needed to limit growth. It can escape gardens and smother trees beneath its growth. It has spread in central Florida and is invasive in Australia. Scale insects, mites, and caterpillars may cause trouble. RHS reports few disease problems. No food uses or known hazards are recorded by Useful Tropical Plants. This does not establish that eating it is safe. That source records folk uses for coughs and other ailments, not proven treatments.