Ipomoea lobata: Country Or Region Of Origin
South West Mexico
Plant Profile: Ipomoea lobata
Names
Firecracker Vine, Spanish Flag
Phonetic Spelling:eye-poh-MEE-ah low-BAY-tah
Genus:Ipomoea
Species:lobata
Family:Convolvulaceae
The Spanish flag is a perennial vine closely associated with morning glory, yet it features a distinctly different floral structure. Its flowers are asymmetrical and grow in upright clusters.
To enhance germination, the seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours. This plant thrives in rich, moist, and well-drained soil.
Ipomoea lobata Feature Summary
Tags
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
Similar Plants
Ipomoea lobata Feature Summary
Attributes
Flowers
The flowers are tubular and held on upright clusters, with as many as 20 flowers per cluster. The flowers are held to one side of the flower stalk, giving the appearance of flags blowing in the wind. The flowers are orange-red as they open, but they fade to yellow and then white as they age. All colors will be present within a cluster at the same time.
White
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Raceme
Showy
Long-lasting
Summer
Tubular
Leaves
Large, green, deeply lobed leaves
Green
Simple
Alternate
Poisonous to Humans
Vomiting, large amounts of seeds may cause hallucinations
Indole alkaloids (Lysergic acid, lysergamide, elymoclavine and chanoclavine)
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
High Organic Matter
Sand
Stem
Green
Red/Burgundy
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Accent
Specimen
Vertical Spaces
Bees
Hummingbirds
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Ipomoea lobata Image Gallery
Ipomoea lobata Attributes
Ipomoea lobata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Ipomoea lobata: Climbing Method
Clinging
Scrambler
Tendrils
Twining
Ipomoea lobata Flowers
Ipomoea lobata: Flower Description
The flowers are tubular and held on upright clusters, with as many as 20 flowers per cluster. The flowers are held to one side of the flower stalk, giving the appearance of flags blowing in the wind. The flowers are orange-red as they open, but they fade to yellow and then white as they age. All colors will be present within a cluster at the same time.
Ipomoea lobata: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Orange
White
Ipomoea lobata: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Ipomoea lobata: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Ipomoea lobata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Ipomoea lobata: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Ipomoea lobata Leaves
Ipomoea lobata: Leaf Description
Large, green, deeply lobed leaves
Ipomoea lobata: Leaf Color
Green
Ipomoea lobata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Ipomoea lobata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Ipomoea lobata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Ipomoea lobata: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Ipomoea lobata Poisonous to Humans
Ipomoea lobata: Poison Symptoms
Vomiting, large amounts of seeds may cause hallucinations
Ipomoea lobata: Poison Toxic Principle
Indole alkaloids (Lysergic acid, lysergamide, elymoclavine and chanoclavine)
Ipomoea lobata: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Ipomoea lobata: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Ipomoea lobata Whole Plant Traits
Ipomoea lobata: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Ipomoea lobata: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Ipomoea lobata: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Ipomoea lobata: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Ipomoea lobata Cultural Conditions
Ipomoea lobata: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Ipomoea lobata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Ipomoea lobata: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Ipomoea lobata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
9a
9b
Ipomoea lobata: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Ipomoea lobata Stem
Ipomoea lobata: Stem Color
Green
Red/Burgundy
Ipomoea lobata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Ipomoea lobata Landscape
Ipomoea lobata: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Ipomoea lobata: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Ipomoea lobata: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Ipomoea lobata: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Ipomoea lobata: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
