bugambilia

Description:

Leaves are thin, sometimes downy, and broadly elliptical with pointed tips; stems are protected by long narrow thorns, found at the leaf axils. Foliage is evergreen or deciduous, depending on the species and climate. True flowers, in groups of 1 to 3 are tubular, creamy white to yellow and around 1 inch wide, largely hidden by brightly colored petal-like bracts. In the St. Louis area, these plants are a shrubby vine that can be grown in greenhouses, sun porches or in containers or baskets outdoors in the summer months.

Notes:

The 14 species of this South American genus in the four-o-clock family, seen in warm-temperate to tropical regions as spectacular climbers, are really scrambling shrubs and usually remain fairly compact or behave as ground covers if left free standing.