The Amazing Flamevine: Nature's Orange Trumpet

One of my favorite things about visiting tropical areas is the incredible variety of flora. Every island, every continent, and even every city has its own unique display of vibrant plant life. I can be walking down the street, minding my own business, when—BAM—I spot something breathtaking.

That’s exactly what happened when I first saw Pyrostegia venusta, commonly known as flamevine or orange trumpet vine. With its cascading clusters of fiery orange flowers, this plant is impossible to miss. Originally native to South America—specifically Brazil, Bolivia, northeastern Argentina, and Paraguay—it has since been widely cultivated as an ornamental vine in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

Flamevine is admired for its vigorous growth and ability to cover fences, walls, and trellises with a dense blanket of foliage and bright blossoms. It thrives in warm climates and flowers during the winter months, making it a popular choice for adding color when many other plants are dormant.

However, in some places, Pyrostegia venusta can become invasive. It has been reported as problematic in Queensland, Australia, some Pacific Islands, Tanzania, and parts of Florida, where it spreads aggressively, outcompeting native plants and even strangling trees. Gardeners who cultivate it should regularly prune and monitor its growth to prevent it from escaping cultivation.

Despite its challenges, Pyrostegia venusta remains a spectacular plant—one that continues to stop me in my tracks every time I see it.