Ipomoea Species, Morning Glory, Spanish Flag, Firecracker Vine, Exotic Love Vine
Ipomoea lobata
Family: | Convolvulaceae (kon-volv-yoo-LAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Ipomoea (ip-oh-MEE-a) (Info) |
Species: | lobata (low-BAH-tuh) (Info) |
Synonym: | Convolvulus mina |
Synonym: | Ipomoea mina |
Synonym: | Mina cordata |
Synonym: | Mina lobata |
Synonym: | Quamoclit lobata |

Category:
Vines and Climbers
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Foliage Color:
Height:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Spacing:
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
Hardiness:
Not Applicable
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Can be grown as an annual
Danger:
Seed is poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
Red
Orange
Bright Yellow
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Scarify seed before sowing
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Lincoln, (258 reports)
Alabaster, Alabama
Gadsden, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Montevallo, Alabama
Phenix City, Alabama
Flagstaff, Arizona
Yarnell, Arizona
Amesti, California
Arroyo Grande, California
Benicia, California
Citrus Heights, California
Corralitos, California
Elkhorn, California
Fairfield, California
Fresno, California
Interlaken, California
Long Beach, California
Los Angeles, California(2 reports)
Merced, California
Pajaro, California
Richmond, California
San Diego, California(2 reports)
San Jose, California
San Leandro, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Rosa, California
Stockton, California
Watsonville, California
Archer, Florida
Brooksville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
New Port Richey, Florida
Sebastian, Florida
Yulee, Florida
Zephyrhills, Florida
Kailua, Hawaii
Kaneohe Station, Hawaii
Maunawili, Hawaii
Indianapolis, Indiana
Barbourville, Kentucky
Ewing, Kentucky
Covington, Louisiana(2 reports)
Greenwell Springs, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
Lowell, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Stanton, Michigan
Wyandotte, Michigan
Madison, Mississippi
Mantachie, Mississippi
Mount Vernon, Missouri
O Fallon, Missouri
Manchester, New Hampshire
New Milford, New Jersey
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Averill Park, New York
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Spencer, North Carolina
Columbia Station, Ohio
Hulbert, Oklahoma
Mc Keesport, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Fountain Inn, South Carolina
North Augusta, South Carolina
Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Memphis, Tennessee
Westmoreland, Tennessee
Austin, Texas
Georgetown, Texas
Houston, Texas
Mc Kinney, Texas
Oakhurst, Texas
Plano, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Arlington, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Kalama, Washington
Mountlake Terrace, Washington
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Neutral | On Jan 29, 2019, hotbuthumid from Houston, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: I was trying to decide whether to plant this vine because of the varied experiences getting it to bloom and came across this info which explains why it flowers late. Tho the packet says "sow after danger of frost" yada yada it's an obligate short day bloomer so I'm going to sow it MUCH later since it likes lots of heat to germinate and cannot bloom until the days get short! I'll also choose my location so it gets late fall sun (my beds go nearly 360 degrees around my house). |
Positive | On Sep 4, 2017, dianeDMT from East Norriton, PA wrote: SE, PA here. Growing this for the first time from seeds I managed to fine. Visited many nurseries but none had the plant. Beautiful plant and the hummingbirds are now enjoying. Planted in containers on trellises near fence to give some privacy from neighbors. Very slow to start; I did fertilize twice in Aug. about 2 weeks apart. |
Positive | On Jan 25, 2016, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: A spectacular climber, annual except in semitropical climates. The individual flowers last for many weeks. Stems are burgundy. |
Positive | On Oct 27, 2013, MCatherineL from Covington, LA wrote: I've planted the Spanish Flag Vine for the past 3 - 4 years in South Louisiana. It always comes back beautifully. This year, I planted a few seeds next to a crepe myrtle and when the leaves on the crepe dropped off, there was Spanish Flag Vine. Now in Oct. the vines are just gorgeous!! |
Positive | On Oct 26, 2013, GrampaMark from Lowell, MA wrote: The flowers are beautiful, purchased on a whim in the spring to blend in with my morning glory's. Hope I can find the seeds again in 2014. Not flowering long enough here to get seeds. Love them!! |
Positive | On Oct 23, 2013, kidmelony from Salem, MA wrote: Beautiful fall flowers here in Massachusetts. I planted three small plants in June and they did take a while to get started up my trellis, but once they got going, they didn't stop. My other Ipomoea varieties had already bloomed and I thought that these weren't going to make it before the cold here. They started blooming two weeks ago and I couldn't be happier with the abundance and uniqueness of the flowers. |
Positive | On Aug 10, 2013, nathanieledison from Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) wrote: I'm exotically in love with this vine! It asks for water once (sometimes twice, if hot) a day, but indeed looks incredible in any setting. I've never fertilized it, and it's in moderately sandy soil around a telephone pole. Don't tell CalTrans. This one plant got me started on annuals and I can't wait to plant more next year! Truly a winner!! |
Positive | On Aug 1, 2013, selvahombre from San Diego, CA wrote: This plant is awesome. Not sure why its not more common. Started blooming July in San Diego. I don't get frost, so we will see how long it blooms and what it does next year. This is a beautiful unique plant. I highly recommend. |
Positive | On Jul 15, 2011, CPAgain from Stanton, MI wrote: We bought our potted Firecracker vine at a green house. It is on our patio and is doing wonderful. It was about 3' tall when we brought it home in May and has climbed to over 10' and is still growing. I have already harvest some of the seeds and will try to start them next spring. |
Neutral | On Apr 11, 2011, noshoooz from Kailua, HI wrote: Hi...I live in Hawaii and have had the firecracker vine in my courtyard for about a month now. It seems quite happy. However, I am moving soon to a house directly on the beach and wonder if it does well near salt. Where I am now is quite a ways from salt spray. Any thoughts? |
Positive | On Jan 19, 2011, hortulaninobili from St. Louis, MO (Zone 6a) wrote: Ipomoea lobata syn. Mina lobata: |
Neutral | On Oct 17, 2010, cattypuss from Melbourne, I have been fortunate enough to obtain a dozen seeds from a friend who is a real "plantaholic" like me. All twelve have germinated and are now planted out in the garden. I can't wait to see them flower, this plant is not widely available down here in southern Australia, I saw it for the first time in a trial garden last season and had to track it down. Maybe mine will start something! |
Positive | On Oct 12, 2010, GreginColorado from Greeley, CO wrote: I bought some seeds and planted them after soaking overnight, into a 15 week, late for the growing season, flower bed. It was a slow go at first and I thought they wouldn't make it. Seemed to take forever to get them out of the ground, even in the direct Sun they were growing in. Plenty of water too. |
Positive | On Aug 27, 2010, nrandel from Dublin, VA (Zone 6a) wrote: I cut down a messy magnolia but left a 10 foot stump thinking I would plant a vine to climb it - I picked the Exotic Love Vine, Mina Lobata. It didn't climb the stump but spread out in a low shrub fashion; perhaps I should have helped it along by tieing it up. But, it's beautiful, very hardy in hot Roanoke, VA sunshine and the hummers love it. |
Neutral | On Jan 3, 2010, terrora wrote: Hi, bought three of these at the L.B.Gardens in Oct and they were all doing great. They now look like the frost may have done them in, but I'm hoping being like a morning glory they will all come back hardy in the spring. All three are in pots, one in San Francisco and two are here in Vacaville, CA Please tell me they will come back, they are so lovely and I would like to harvest the seeds for more. |
Positive | On Oct 2, 2009, mswestover from Yulee, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: Grows easily from seed, blooms in Oct-Nov in zone 9a. Climbs a trellis in no time. Hummingbirds flock to it. |
Neutral | On Aug 29, 2009, EllieMaGoo from Pittsburgh, PA wrote: I forget how many seeds were in the pack. Maybe 7 grew, though a couple got eaten by a groundhog. The remaining plants grew into a very nice vine, though it could thicker. I saw that the seeds are poisonous. Should I be careful to keep my dog away from them? |
Positive | On Oct 6, 2008, robcorreia from San Diego, CA (Zone 10b) wrote: This is truly stunning vine! Very easy from seeds too. |
Positive | On Sep 27, 2008, rosary83 from Wyandotte, MI wrote: This is my first year of planting spanish flag . It took forever to start but once it did it grew fast. Hummingbirds are super attracted to it. I am looking forward to having it in my garden for many years. This plant is grown in Wyandotte Michigan |
Positive | On Aug 7, 2003, SueP64 from Centerbrook, CT wrote: This vine thrives in full sun and is quite an eyecatcher. We planted it in pots along with chartreuse coleus, dark purple coleus, purple salvia (annual), feathery celosia, sweet potato (tricolor) and dusty miller. The effect is stunning. With 12 24" pots filled to the brim and a pastoral background that includes a waterfall, it makes a picture perfect setting. |
Positive | On Jan 8, 2003, Cactus_Joe from Vancouver, This is a vigorous vine. Slow to start off with while the soil is still cool, once warmed up late in spring, it can completely cover an 8 foot tall pillar in no time. The numerous unusual and spectacular flowers are long lasting. It blooms right through till first frost. In locations where frost hits before the end of October, there may not be enough time for the seeds to ripen. The neatest thing about it as a vine is a characteristics it shares with other annual morning glories - the vines decay quickly and are easy to remove once the plant packs it in in the fall. It looked good combined with Cobaea scandens - they seem to coexist well together on the same structure. |
Positive | On Aug 25, 2001, mystic from Ewing, KY (Zone 6a) wrote: Related to the morning glory, sometimes called 'Firecracker Vine' or 'Exotic Love'. This unusual annual vine has up to 12 beautiful 2" tubular flowers on each spike, that change color as they enlarge and open from crimson red to yellowy-orange to creamy yellow. The leaves may remind you of sweet potato vine.It's easy to grow, and excellent on a trellis, fence or in a hanging basket. Also makes a great cut flower.I didn't realize this plant attracted hummingbirds until today. I have watched the hummers on the vine all afternoon. Started out with just one and as the afternoon progressed there where at least five at one given time.So this for sure is a plant that attracts hummers. |