Pyrostegia venusta (flame vine)

This species is native to Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. According to some records, it may occur naturally as far north as Mexico. It is also commonly cultivated throughout the tropics and other frost-free regions of the world, where it can become naturalised and is sometimes considered invasive.

Pyrostegia venusta climbs up to 6 m or more. The leaves have paired leaflets (5.0–7.5 cm), and a long, central 3-branched, twisting tendril. The crowded clusters of flowers are formed in the leaf axils on the tips of shoots. The orange, yellow or red flowers are 4–8 cm long, tubular, with narrow recurved lobes. Each flower has an exerted style and two long exerted and two shorter stamens. The capsule is narrowly cylindrical and filled with winged seeds. After the petals fall off, they hang for a day or so by the style before dropping. In the wild, P. venusta is pollinated by hummingbirds.

In Brazil, the leaves of Pyrostegia venusta are used in traditional medicine as a tonic and for treating diarrhoea. However, Pyrostegia venusta is more widely known as an ornamental climber that makes a dazzling spectacle when in full flower. It flowers throughout the year in favourable locations (with a peak in June to September in its native range). In some parts of the world, such as in Queensland (Australia), south-eastern USA and on some Pacific islands, it has become naturalised and is considered a weed, smothering native vegetation. There is a risk that it could become invasive in other countries where it has been introduced.

Flame vine is found in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, flowering mainly in winter.

Pressed and dried specimens of Pyrostegia venusta are held in Kew’s Herbarium, where they are available to researchers from around the world, by appointment. The details of some of these, including images, can be seen online in the Herbarium Catalogue.

Search Kew's databases for more information on this species

JSTOR Plant Science (includes images of Pyrostegia venusta)

Kew’s Neotropical Plants Image database

Usambara Invasive Plants – Pyrostegia venusta

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