Mexican Flame Vine is a well-known ornamental vine prized for its bright orange blossoms and velvety foliage. It’s a very popular plant in the United States. In warm climates, it’s evergreen and can produce showy blooms year-round. Its flowers are loved by the monarch butterfly and many other types of insects and hummingbirds, as well.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides (syn. Senecio confusus), known commonly as Mexican flamevine, orange-flowered groundsel and orange glow vine, is a climber in the family Asteraceae.
Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides is a fast-growing, twining, herbaceous vine that reaches a height of 5 metres (16 ft) to 10 metres (33 ft).
It features smooth, subcylindrical, glabrous or puberulous stems that become slightly woody as they age. Its evergreen leaves are simple, dull, alternate, arrowhead-shaped, toothed or serrated, 2-4 inches long, glabrous, somewhat fleshy, ovate to lanceolate, often unequal, membranaceous with conspicuous venation, slightly cordiform and obtuse base, and acute apex. Its petioles are 1.5-2.2 cm long.
Inflorescences
It features daisy-like, orange ray flowers (which age to a bright red or vermilion upon pollination) that are 1 inch in diameter with golden tubular corollas on terminal clusters. Capitula is 2-6 cm, pedunculate, in terminal corymbiform cymes. Peduncle is 2-5 cm in diameter. The phyllaries are green, lanceolate, 4 mm long. Achenes are turbinate and hispidulous, 4 mm in diameter.
Polycarpic, the plant will sporadically bloom all year-round in mild winter climates, though generally peaking in spring and summer. In Florida, it tends to flower in autumn and winter more, and in Puerto Rico it flowers from late winter to early spring.
The fruits are ribbed, inconspicuous, oval-shaped brown less than 0.5 inches in diameter, with persistent bristles. Its seeds are wind dispersed and its fruit resemble dandelion seed heads. White and bristly cypselae that are 2-4mm long are continual on plant.
Taxonomy
The plant’s former scientific name Senecio confusus translates to “confused old man”, which refers to the pappus bristles on the achenes and the vine’s rampant, irregular habit of growth, respectively. Without support, a “confusion” of stems change the plant into a straggly shrub.
Its current taxonomic name Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides refer to its “pseudo” resemblance to some of the species within the gynoxys and chenopodioideae genus. ‘Gynoxys’ is derived from Greek terms of ‘gyne’ (female) and ‘oxys’ (spiny), which refers to the shape of the plant’s female flower parts. ‘Chenopodioides’ means ‘resembling goosefoot’ in Greek (chen: goose, pous: foot), which describes the leaf shape.
It is native from Mexico (specifically Veracruz) to Honduras in Central America, and can be found as far as the northern regions of South America in Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana and Suriname, where it generally thrives in moist habits (though it can tolerate mildly dry climates and moderate drought). Versatile, it can survive in elevations exceeding 2200 m.
It has been naturalized in Hawaii (Oahu), Puerto Rico, other parts of the Caribbean, possibly the Canary Islands, United States (such as Texas and the Gulf Coast), India, Singapore and on various islands in the Pacific Ocean, and is an adventive plant in Florida.
Invasiveness
Due to its distribution ability by wind-dispersed seeds and stem fragments (which can root readily), it has become an escaped plant that is naturalized along roadsides, forest edges, moist thickets and disturbed sites.
As such, it has been listed as invasive in Anguilla, Hawaii, and it is considered potentially invasive in Florida and Galapagos Islands due to its aggressive habit of spreading and rapidly colonizing new environments.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight and Soil
Mexican flame vine is easily grown in average, moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light shade in hot summer climates.
Watering
Adapted to the moisture-rich environment of its native habitat, Mexican Flame Vine thrives with consistent hydration. This species exhibits a preference for evenly moist soil conditions, reflecting its drought-sensitive nature. Watering should align with a frequency of once every week to maintain optimal health. Given that Mexican Flame Vine is typically grown outdoors, it’s important to consider how natural rainfall can supplement irrigation practices, especially during the active growing season when water demand peaks.
Fertilizing
For Mexican Flame Vine, optimize growth by using balanced fertilizers (e.g., 10-10-10). Quarterly application is ideal, adjusting for active growth in spring/summer. Benefits include enhanced vigor and bloom quality. Use recommended label rates to avoid over-fertilization; excess can damage Mexican Flame Vine or environment. Seasonal changes affect Mexican Flame Vine’s needs: increase in growing months, reduce in dormancy. Apply fertilizer to moist soil, not dry; this prevents root burn. For safety, wear gloves and wash hands post-application. Continual observation will help tailor Mexican Flame Vine’s feeding regimen for robust health.
Pruning
Pruning is a special care point for mexican Flame Vine, as this encourages bushier growth and more prolific flowering.
Propagation
Mexican Flame Vine thrives when propagated through cuttings. Enthusiasts should select a healthy stem with several leaf nodes and remove any lower leaves. The cutting can then be dipped in rooting hormone to encourage development before planting in well-draining soil. Consistently moist conditions and warmth will support root growth, resulting in a robust vine. Careful handling and avoiding waterlogging is key to a successful propagation.
Transplanting
For Mexican Flame Vine, the prime transplanting window is from mid-spring to late spring, when consistent warmth encourages root establishment. Choose a sunny, well-draining location. If needed, amending soil with organic matter can promote vigorous growth.
Repotting
For the vigorous climber Mexican Flame Vine, repotting every 2-3 years promotes health and encourages blooming. Ideal timing is early spring, before active growth. Upgrade to a container one size larger with ample vertical support. Post-repotting, keep soil moist and provide bright, indirect light to ease transition and fuel the vivid flowers of this stunning vine.
III. Uses and Benefits
The Mexican flamevine is prized as an ornamental because of its showy flowers, which are pollinated by butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.
Its fast growth is ideal to cover unsightly fences, or to caul a trellis (since it usually reaches maturity within the first year). Regular hearing aids foliage growth and blooms at the bottom of a fence or trellis.
