Ipomoea Species, Morning Glory, Spanish Flag, Firecracker Vine, Exotic Love Vine

Ipomoealobata

Family
Convolvulaceae (kon-volv-yoo-LAY-see-ee)
Genus
Ipomoea (ip-oh-MEE-a)
Species
lobata (low-BAH-tuh)
Synonym
Convolvulus mina
Ipomoea mina
Mina cordata
Mina lobata
Quamoclit lobata
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Spacing
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
Hardiness
Not Applicable
Danger
Seed is poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Red
Orange
Bright Yellow
Bloom Time
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Vines and Climbers
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Can be grown as an annual
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
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

Harrodsburg, 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

Averill Park, New York

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Greensboro, North Carolina

Spencer, North Carolina

Columbia Station, Ohio

Hulbert, Oklahoma

Sherwood, Oregon

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 all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

17
positives
5
neutrals
0
negative
Sort By:
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H
Houston, TX (Zone 9a) | January 2019 | neutral

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 e...Read More

D
East Norriton, PA | September 2017 | positive

SE, PA here. Growing this for the first time from seeds I managed to fine. Visited many nurseries but none had the plant. Beautiful pl...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | January 2016 | positive

A spectacular climber, annual except in semitropical climates. The individual flowers last for many weeks. Stems are burgundy.
...Read More

M
Covington, LA | October 2013 | positive

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 ...Read More

G
Lowell, MA | October 2013 | positive

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...Read More

K
Salem, MA | October 2013 | positive

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...Read More

N
Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) | August 2013 | positive

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...Read More

S
San Diego, CA | August 2013 | positive

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 i...Read More

C
Stanton, MI | July 2011 | positive

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 i...Read More

N
Kailua, HI | April 2011 | neutral

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...Read More

H
St. Louis, MO (Zone 6a) | January 2011 | positive

Ipomoea lobata syn. Mina lobata:

A very easy to grow plant from seed. Seed can be started in small pots early in the sprin...Read More

C
| October 2010 | neutral

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 ar...Read More

G
Greeley, CO | October 2010 | positive

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 a...Read More

N
Dublin, VA (Zone 6a) | August 2010 | positive

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 Loba...Read More

T
| January 2010 | neutral

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, b...Read More

M
Yulee, FL (Zone 9a) | October 2009 | positive

Grows easily from seed, blooms in Oct-Nov in zone 9a. Climbs a trellis in no time. Hummingbirds flock to it.

E
Pittsburgh, PA | August 2009 | neutral

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...Read More

R
San Diego, CA (Zone 10b) | October 2008 | positive

This is truly stunning vine! Very easy from seeds too.
I would like to add that it can go much higher than stated above. Mine has ...Read More

R
Wyandotte, MI | September 2008 | positive

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 ...Read More

S
S
Centerbrook, CT | August 2003 | positive

This vine thrives in full sun and is quite an eyecatcher. We planted it in pots along with chartreuse coleus, dark purple coleus, purple ...Read More

C
| January 2003 | positive

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 ...Read More

M
M
Ewing, KY (Zone 6a) | August 2001 | positive

Related to the morning glory, sometimes called 'Firecracker Vine' or 'Exotic Love'. This unusual annual vine has up to 12 beautiful 2" tu...Read More

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