Flame Vine, Golden Shower, Orange Trumpet Creeper (Pyrostegia venusta)

Flame Vine, Golden Shower, Orange Trumpet Creeper
Pyrostegia venusta

Jan 6, 2009 University of South FloridaBotanical Garden, Tampa

I fell in love with this climbing beauty when I found it at a road side 'plant centre' in Nakuru, Kenya. I wanted something with some colour to make a divider between my 'garden area' and my crop growing part of the plot.

Exactly how much maintenance does this take, mine would like to look like the photo above but instead has become very scrawny. Don't get me wrong it flowers constantly due to the sunshine and warmth here but how much cutting back should I do bearing in mind we dont have real seasons like back in the Uk?

I asked the man at the 'plant centre' but he looked at me like I was a bit crazy when I said what soil does it like and does it prefer shade or sunshine......... dah .... in hinde sight a silly question!

How easy is it to propergate as he wasnt too eager to tell me this either as he saw his sales competing with me, I only wanted to get it to cover a new wall my nice neighbour has put directly in my view!!

Your comments would be appreciated as it is hard to find plant books out here.

Nakuru,

Information, from books or from people, is hard to come by here in Florida also.

Pyrostegia venusta is native, grows in sandy soil. Our soils are high in phosphorus and low in most other elements. Like most vines it appreciates lots of sun.

Since you are far south of this plant's native range and it blooms year around for you I am guessing that it will not behave in the same manner as it does here, it gets very thick with out any attention and grows to the top of tall trees. I would keep it pruned in the same way you would a hedge, monthly shearing would be good.

Propagation - where is touches the ground you can cover the section that touches with soil and it should root. You can try air layering too.

Best of luck!

Many thanks for the info. I must admit I am winging it here alot with the plants, as no one appears to be able to advise me. I have been in the Uk for a year and is it also possible for me to ask you for further advise on any home remedies for my climbing rose which has grown beautifully through the open screening of my porch. It is smothered with black soot on the leaves and also the tale tale scales along the mature branches. I have today patiently washed, with soapy water, the black soot from each of the worst affected leaves but is there something in the kitchen cupboard that I can use for getting rid of the scale, the thought of scraping them all off is not a good one as there are so many and dont want to loose the rose.

Ok for example of the basic things I possess, Vingear, cooking oil, more soap, shampoo, conditioner, sun cream, baking powder, flea powder (I have a cat and a dog) curry powder, toothpaste, T-tree oil, fresh aloe vera (so many plants), Tea, coffee, mustard, peppar, salt, honey, marmite, to name just a sample of what is here. I would rather not go the chemical way.

Thanks again.
Nakuru

Any further advice would be god.

I would advise you to try Neem Oil for both fungus/sooty mold and scale.

I haven't much knowledge of roses since they grow very poorly here. We have what we call 'landscape roses' that need no care. I suspect yours is more of the hybrid types which grow best in a Mediterranean Climate.

I use chemicals on hybrid roses for those folks who want them in the landscape. Sometimes there is no choice.

DTG

Not sure the battery will last for me to reply, as the power is out AGAIN twice in one evening. Thanks so much will go and try and find Neem Oil - not sure what I do with it but sure I will find out!

Many thanks from Nakuru.

Read and follow label directions. You will need a spray bottle also.....If you don't have one.

Neem Oil (and Aloe) are used in skin creams to relieve rash/itching. You should be able to find Neem at a large (or corporate) garden center - maybe from the health food/natural remedies folks, although they will be more expensive than a garden center.