Mexican Flame Vine is a tropical, drought-tolerant, herbaceous, flowering vine in the daisy family that is native to Mexico and South America. It is typically an ornamental with showy bright orange flowers and arrowhead-shaped green leaves. The vine is a vigorous climber and will spread to a length of 12 feet with a width of up to 6 feet. The plant does best in average to organically rich, medium consistent moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. It will tolerate some light shade and short periods of drought once established. The plant requires some support, such as a fence or trellis, on which to grow, else it will grow in a sprawling shrub-like form. Mexican Flame Vine is winter hardy in a narrow range (Zones 9-10) and will likely need winter protection in Zone 8 or be grown as an annual in other zones. Alternatively, it can be potted and overwintered indoors. Grown outdoors, the vine will spread to 12 to 20 feet. When grown as an annual, the length is less than 12 feet. It will spread from stems that root in the soil where they touch the ground. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheLantana camara 'Miss Huff'Narcissus x odorusNerium oleander
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Annual; Herbaceous Perennial; Vine
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial
USDA zones
9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Fleshy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Arrowhead-shaped evergreen leaves 4 inches long are deep green with serrated edges.
Flower color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Orange, daisy-like flowers bloom from June to October, gradually turning red as the season progresses. One inch diameter flowers appear in clusters.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit detail
Small dandelion-like puffs of seed.
Stem detail
smooth stem that becomes woody.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Mexico, Tropical South America
Distribution
Introduced into Florida, Puerto Rico, and Panama.
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies and bees.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden
Design feature
Accent; Specimen
Garden tags
#showy flowers #orange flowers #drought tolerant #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #annual vine #sprawling #vine #spreading #full sun #evergreen vine #ornamental vine
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses