Ipomoea lobata

Ipomoea lobata, the fire vine, firecracker vine or Spanish flag[1] (formerly Mina lobata), is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae, native to Mexico and Brazil.[2]

Ipomoea lobata
I. lobata, Dresden Botanical Garden
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Ipomoea
Species:
I. lobata
Binomial name
Ipomoea lobata
(Cerv.) Thell.
Synonyms
  • Ipomoea versicolor Meisn.
  • Mina lobata Cerv.
  • Quamoclit lobata

Growing to 5 m (16 ft) tall, I. lobata is a perennial climber often cultivated in temperate regions as an annual. It has toothed and lobed leaves (hence lobata) and one-sided racemes of flowers, opening red and fading to yellow, cream and white. These colours are graded down the length of the flower spike. The effect is like a firework, hence one of its popular names “firecracker vine”. The colours vaguely resemble the red and gold of the Spanish national flag, hence its other common name “Spanish flag”.

I. lobata requires a minimum temperature of 5 °C (41 °F), and a warm, sheltered spot in full sun (either equatorial-facing or west-facing). It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[3][4]

It is closely related to two other popular, award-winning climbing plants, Ipomoea indica (blue dawn flower) and Ipomoea tricolor (morning glory).

The name “Spanish flag” is also used for Lantana camara, an ornamental shrub.

References
  1. Brickell, Christopher, ed. (2008). The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 570. ISBN 9781405332965.
  2. Val Bourne (29 October 2010). "How to grow Ipomoea lobata". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  3. "RHS Plantfinder - Ipomoea lobata". Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  4. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 53. Retrieved 13 March 2018.

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