Mina lobata (Spanish flag)

(Based on 2 user reviews)

Rate this plant

Botanical Name:Mina lobata

Common Name: Spanish flag Synonyms: Ipomoea versicolor, Quamoclit lobata

Sprays of long, tubular buds spark into a fiery scarlet and fade to a pale cream on this annual climbing vine. A single flower holds tints of yellow, warm pink, orange, and red as if a watercolorist had laid down colors one layer at a time. As the bud matures, the colors wash away, leaving a pale blossom pushed open at the tip by protruding anthers. From a distance, the plant seems to be covered in hundreds of brightly lit candles. This vine also produces rich, bronzy-purple new growth which ages to a lovely deep green. The heavily indented, trilobed leaves resemble a hawk's strong wings, giving the plant the look of birds in flight. The foliage stays intact and healthy until frost. The bottom of the vine sheds its leaves as the season progresses, so disguising its bare base behind lower-growing plants is a must.
Noteworthy characteristics: Long, colorful sprays of flowers in autumn.
Care: Full sun and well-drained, moderately fertile soil in a sheltered location. Provide support.
Propagation: Chip seeds or soak in water for 24 hours and then sow singly at 64°F.
Problems: White blister, rust, fungal leaf spots, stem rot, thread blight, charcoal rot, and wilt.

Overview
User Reviews
Photos

Height	6 ft. to 10 ft.
Growth Pace	Moderate Grower
Light	Full Sun Only
Moisture	Medium Moisture
Maintenance	Moderate
Characteristics	Showy Flowers
Bloom Time	Fall
Flower Color	Orange/ Salmon Flower; Red Flower; White Flower; Yellow Flower
Uses	Trellis
Seasonal Interest	Fall Interest
Type	Annuals,Vines

Rate this plant

posted by Agardengeek
9/21/2009
Region: Midwest
Zone: 4

Easy to start from seed indoors or out in the garden. I've seen humming birds buzz around mine. Grows fast. Great screening potential in sunny area.

posted by Bearcatdog
11/29/2008
Region: Northeast
Zone: 6

I live in St. Catharines, Southern Ontario, Canada. I grew this vine as an annual for the first time in summer 2008. I grew it in a flowerbox as well as in the ground with western exposure for both. The flowerbox vine was planted up with potting mix and smartcote vitamins. The vines planted in the garden were simply planted in (okay enriched) garden soil with smartcote vitamins added. Both vines had metal trellises to grow on. This vine was absolutely awesome. I planted them mid June, by July they started flowering. They flowered nonstop until mid November! I will continue to grow this vine as an annual year to year. It was absolutely stunning and reached heights of 15 feet with continuous blooms from top to bottom! The blooms were stunning ranging in colour from white to yellow to orange and ending with red. The leaves were shaped similar to maple tree leaves with purple tinges on green, they were beautiful. I couln't have grown weeds easier than I did this vine! I read that I could harvest the seeds (which I did, once the round pods had turned to brown)and either pot them up early in the house or directly into the ground once all danger of frost is over. I will be trying both of the above methods come spring, wish me luck! I also planted some seeds in the ground, I'm curious if they will survive freezing this winter and germinate in the spring. Hummingbirds came continuously to drink it's nectar. The vines were eyestoppers and rated reviews from everyone that walked past the house. I grow many annual and perennial vines every year, this vine quickly became my favourite. I reccommend this vine to everyone~

Click on a thumbnail to see a full sized image

Plants you might also like

Ipomoea lobata
(Firecracker vine, Spanish flag)

(2 user reviews)

This unusual annual vine is the perfect choice for adding some vertical interest to the garden. Its racemes of vivid blossoms are a hummingbird favorite, with their red tooth-like flowers that fade to orange and then yellow and white. Firecracker vine can bloom year round in warm climates, but generally blooms from summer to fall. It is a native of Mexico and Central and South America.

Momordica charantia
(Bitter melon, Balsam pear) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

An edible member of Cucurbitaceae family, bitter melon has delicate growth and exotic-looking fruits. Its light-green, puckered foliage is divided into lacy lobes, and a silvery down covers both new shoot tips and emerging leaves, giving the young growth a silken sheen. Given a post to climb, bitter melon grows up, not out, using slim tendrils to carry the plant up to 6 to 8 feet in height.

Thunbergia alata
(Black-eyed Susan vine)

(3 user reviews)

Hardiness Zones:

This tender perennial climber is evergreen in Zones 10 and warmer. Cheerful, 1.5-inch flowers in shades of orange and yellow cover this fast-growing vine. The blossoms have a simple form: 5 petals surrounding a brownish purple center. Where grown as an annual, plants can reach 8 feet; when grown as a perennial, 20 feet.

Gaillardia pulchella
(Blanket flower, Indian blanket)

(2 user reviews)

Hardiness Zones:

Blanket flower is a bushy annual that produces red or yellow (or red and yellow) flowers over a long season. The blooms are daisy-shaped with a dark purple central disk. Growing to about 18 inches tall, this native of central and southern U.S. and Mexico is nice in a meadow, cut flower garden, border, or rock garden.

Calibrachoa 'Superbells Tequila Sunrise'
(Millon bells, Trailing petunia) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

Calibrachoa is a relatively new genus of flowering plants. The first cultivars weren't released until 1992. This cultivar's self-cleaning, petunia-like flowers are painted in a sunny mix of orange, red, and yellow. It is an easy-to-grow, trailing perennial, often used as an annual in hanging baskets, window boxes, and other containers.