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Fire Vine Ipomoea lobata

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Mina lobata
  • Quamoclit lobata
Phonetic Spelling
eye-poh-MEE-ah low-BAY-tah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Spanish flag is an annual, flowering, herbaceous vine, native to Mexico, that is related to morning glory, but with a very different type of flower. It is a perennial in its warm, native, home, but because it is not frost tolerant, it is typically grown as an ornamental annual. At maturity, the vine can reach a length of 16 feet. The plant displays a gradient of color from yellow to red along a flower that is irregular in shape and held in upright clusters on a slender, bending stem. The plant blooms freely from mid to late summer until frost and the flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. The genus name comes from the Greek words ips meaning "worm" and homoios meaning "resembling", referring to the sprawling underground roots of plant. The species name means "lobed" and refers to the deeply lobed foliage of this species.
The common name Spanish flag vine refers to the gradient of red to yellow on the flowers.

Spanish flag does best in consistently moist, organically rich, well-draining soil in a sheltered spot with full sun. It will tolerate some shade, but the colorful floral display will suffer. You should start seeds indoors about six weeks before the average last frost date. Seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12-24 hours to aid germination. Seeds are slow to germinate and require warm growing media (at least 70°F). Keep the plant as a indoor plant or plant outdoors once the threat of frost has completely past. It is hardy in frost free Zones 10-11, but will not tolerate temperatures below 40°F. The plant is a climbing vine and will probably require a trellis or some other structure to climb.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

Other than frost issues, there are no known diseases, insect pests, or other plant problems.

More information on Ipomoea.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Citronella'
  • 'Mexican Fiesta'
'Citronella', 'Mexican Fiesta'
Tags:
#frost tender#colorful#herbaceous perennial#long bloom time#vine#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#annual
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Citronella'
  • 'Mexican Fiesta'
'Citronella', 'Mexican Fiesta'
Tags:
#frost tender#colorful#herbaceous perennial#long bloom time#vine#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#annual
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Ipomoea
    Species:
    lobata
    Family:
    Convolvulaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South West Mexico
    Distribution:
    Introduced into parts of South America, Northern Mexico, and East Central Africa.
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Creeping
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
    Appendage:
    Tendrils
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    > 6 inches
    Flower Description:
    The flowers are tubular and held on upright clusters, with as many as 20 flowers per cluster. The flowers are held to one side of the flower stalk, giving the appearance of flags blowing in the wind. The flowers are orange-red as they open, but they fade to yellow and then white as they age. All colors will be present within a cluster at the same time. Blossoms will appear from mid-Summer to first frost as single-sided, 6 inch long racemes on slender stems that gently arc upward and outward away from the vine.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Large, green, deeply lobed leaves 2 to 6 inches long.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    twining
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Vertical Spaces
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting, large amounts of seeds may cause hallucinations
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Indole alkaloids (Lysergic acid, lysergamide, elymoclavine and chanoclavine)
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Seeds