Mexican Flame
Senecio confusus Photographed mid-November. Athens, Georgia. Like so many vines, you just have to know, to visualize, to wait in order to understand what they will do over time. Flame Vine is like an ugly duckling-- the tiny vine becomes a mass of brilliant orange in the fall.
Special Care: This is a sprawling vine that needs help climbing-- it has no tendrils or other climbing methods. It’s perfectly happy to twine up a cyclone fence or lattice trellis. Butterflies and bees like it.
Flowering Time: Early summer, but most spectacular Gardening Tips: Great in masses but is most in October and November. colorful in the fall, so mix with a low lantana or something in front of it for earlier interest. Best in full sun. Very drought tolerant once established. Pull Foliage: The soft green leaves have a bit of shine, but down and clean dried leaves and vine in the winter, mostly, they blend into the background. but don’t worry, it will comes back next summer. Growth Rate: Fast enough to be used as an annual. Ultimate Height: 15 feet! It get’s more vigorous with age. I’ve been tempted to let this sprawl through shrubs, but it’s really too aggressive for that.
Suggested Combinations: Because it’s so aggressive, this is difficult to use in combinations. Focus on what’s in front of it-- I’d love to see a mass of hot pink four o’clocks or gomphrena and a bit of purple salvia for a brilliant fall combo.