Pyrostegia venusta, also commonly known as flamevine or orange trumpet vine, is a plant species of the genus Pyrostegia of the family Bignoniaceae originally native to southern Brazil, Bolivia, northeastern Argentina and Paraguay; today, it is also a widely cultivated garden species.[1]
It is an evergreen or semi-deciduous, vigorously-growing climber, capable of reaching 5 m in height. The foliage is made up of opposite, pinnate leaves with two or three, 4 to 8 cm leaflets, and a 3-branched tendril, which all arise together from the end of the leaf petiole.[2]
The orange flowers, which appear from winter to spring, are 5 to 9 cm long and densely clustered. They are pollinated by hummingbirds. The fruits are smooth, 3 cm long brown capsules.
The plant is sensitive to cold winds and prefers sunny, sheltered locations. Its frost hardiness USDA zones are 9 to 11. It is resistant to soil salinity.
The plant has forked tendrils, which will cling to any rough surface, including brick walls. It can be grown from semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer, autumn or winter.
It is naturalised in eastern Australia, eastern Africa and in the southeastern United States.[3]
The species was first described by John Miers in 1863.
Venusta means 'beautiful', 'charming', or 'graceful'.[4] "Pyrostegia" is from the Greek pyros 'fire', relating to the colour of the flowers and the shape of the upper lip, and stegia 'covering'. When the flowers cover a building, it may appear to be on fire.