Flamevine
Pyrostegia venusta
NEMBA category
English: Flamevine, Orange Trumpet Vine, Flame Vine
Portuguese: Flor‑de‑São‑João, Cipó‑de‑São‑João, Cipó‑bela‑flor
French: Liane Aurore, Liane de Feu
Synonyms: Bignonia ignea, Bignonia tecomiflora, Bignonia tubulosa, Bignonia venusta, Jacaranda echinata, Pyrostegia ignea, Tecoma venusta, Tynanthus igneus, plus various invalid names.
Pyrostegia venusta, known commonly as Flamevine or Orange Trumpet Vine, is a vigorous evergreen climber with glossy pinnate leaves and spectacular clusters of bright orange tubular flowers in winter to spring. It clings using branched tendrils, rapidly covering structures and trees with a blazing cascade of blooms.
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Distinguishing features:
Opposite pinnate leaves with two or three glossy, entire leaflets; terminal leaflet often forms a coiled 3‑branched tendril
Densely clustered, bright orange tubular flowers (5–9 cm long) in leaf‑axil panicles
Long, smooth woody stems equipped with forked tendrils
Slender brown fruit capsules, approx. 3 cm long, splitting to release winged seeds
Origin:
Native to southern Brazil, Bolivia, north‑eastern Argentina and Paraguay.
Overall appearance:
Evergreen, woody climber (liana) forming dense mats over structures and vegetation; stems twine with tendrils.
Height:
Capable of reaching up to 6 m in height.
Leaves:
Compound and opposite.
Comprising 2 or 3 ovate to elliptic, glossy leaflets measuring 4–11 cm long, with entire margins
Terminal leaflet usually replaced by a coiled, 3-branched tendril
Flowers:
Tubular, bisexual, orange to orange‑red flowers 5–9 cm long
Corolla with five reflexed lobes
Four exserted stamens plus one staminode
Style extends beyond the corolla
Arranged in dense terminal or axillary panicles of approximately 10–22 flowers
Flowering season:
Winter through spring in South Africa (typically June to September).
Fruits:
Smooth, leathery capsules approximately 30 cm long.
Seeds:
Flattened, winged, brown seeds up to 4 cm in wing‑span.
Bark:
Stems are woody and smooth, often ribbed.
Stems:
Woody, up to 24 m long; slender, ridged, with forked tendrils and occasional lenticels.
Soil type:
Prefers fertile, well‑drained soils; tolerant of drought and coastal conditions.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun to partial shade; best flowering under sunny, sheltered conditions.
Edibility:
No known edible parts.
Toxicity:
No documented toxicity in South Africa; some medicinal use reported in native range.
Uses:
Ornamental screen for walls, pergolas, fences; admired for winter colour
Occasionally used medicinally in native habitat
Ecology:
Flowers attract bees, butterflies and nectar‑feeding birds (e.g., hummingbird analogues)
Fruits produce winged seeds dispersed by wind; no specific mammal interactions documented
Distribution and habitat:
Naturalised in warm regions worldwide including eastern Africa and South Africa (particularly coastal and frost‑free areas). Grows along fencelines, gardens and disturbed sites.
Derivation of name:
“Pyrostegia”: from Greek pyro (fire) + stegia (covering), referring to the blaze of orange blooms
“Venusta”: Latin for beautiful or charming
“Flamevine/Golden shower” names refer to the intense flowering display
Historical aspects:
Introduced worldwide as an ornamental; escaped cultivation and now valued in gardens but invasive in susceptible climates.
Interesting facts:
The flower clusters can make walls and pergolas look like they're ablaze—hence “flamevine”!
Despite being called “golden shower”, the flowers are distinctly orange–red, not gold. That quirk can help you spot the real plant!
The terminal leaflet transforming into a coiled tendril is a clever adaptation—it helps the vine grip onto supports.
Friendly alternatives:
Common name
Scientific Name
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Plant family:
Plant family (derivation)