Orange Trumpet Vine, Pyrostegia venusta - Plant

Description

Orange trumpet vine (Pyrostegia venusta) is one of the most spectacular winter flowering climbers you can find and is sometimes called the flame vine. If you want to make a statement in your winter garden then this is the plant for you!

This vigorous, twining climber comes from South America and is well suited to Australian soils and climate. It’s magnificent orange flowers appear in winter and last right through to spring. It will easily cover a boring fence or garden shed but why not grow it on a pergola or arch for where the flowers can hang down on display. Suits many garden styles including cottage, tropical, coastal or modern. The orange trumpet vine likes the warmth and need lots of sun and a bit of shelter from cold wind. It is generally frost sensitive but established plants can handle a light frost. It’ll grow in a range of soils but will perform best if you improve the soil with compost, manures and some pelletised organic fertiliser. Good drainage is also important so if you have heavy clay soil apply some eco-flo gypsum prior to planting.

Planting and care

• Feed young plants with a combination of eco-seaweed and eco-aminogro every 2-3 weeks to encourage strong growth. Established plants will appreciate some manure, compost or pelletised organic fertiliser each spring and autumn especially if growing in poor soils.
• The orange trumpet vine is usually trouble free but occasionally mites can appear. Spray with eco-oil when you first see them and repeat the spray if needed.

Uses

• A decoction of the flowers is used to correct menstrual disorders, rheumatoid pains, traumatic injuries, difficult urination, pruritis and oozing dermaphytoses.
• The flowers and the whole plant are blood tonic, carminative, depurative diuretic and febrifuge
• They are used in the treatment of women's complaints.