Mexican
Flame Vine
Blooming almost all year round here on
the southern cost of Granada in Spain, the intense orange, 2" daisy-like
blooms with yellow centers are borne on a vigorous twining vine.
Belonging
to the family asteraceae, theMexican flame vine is a woody tropical vine with
the enchanting summertime habit of covering itself in brilliant daisy-like
flowers. The bright orange blossoms are borne in small clusters.
As they
age the flowers change from orange to almost red.
They
are followed by fruiting structures that resemble smaller versions of the
dandelion's puffy seed heads.
This
vine has thick evergreen leaves that are shaped like arrowheads and serrated on
the edges. They are arranged alternately on the vine and are deep green in
color providing a handsome background for the fiery orange flowers.
A synonym
(out of date scientific name) for this plant is Senecio confusus which
translates as "confused old man" referring, no doubt, to this vine's
rampant habit of growth.
If
not provided support, Mexican flame vine grows this way and that in a confusion
of stems that piles up to eventually form a sprawling shrub.
