Flame Bush Plant Care
Combretum paniculatum Vent.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Combretum paniculatum, the burning bush or forest flame-creeper, is a plant species in the genus Combretum found in Africa. The fruit is a samara, i.e.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Flame Bush?
Flame Bush grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Flame Bush Native To?
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the Flame Bush?
Flame Bush (Combretum paniculatum) belongs to the Combretaceae family within the Combretum genus. Flame Bush is native to Africa. Flame Bush is also known as Knoppie.
Flame Bush displays a vining, climbing shrub growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Flame Bush produces small, tubular flowers in clusters.
What Light Does the Flame Bush Need?
Flame Bush thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Flame Bush?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Flame Bush to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Flame Bush?
Repot every 1-2 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Flame Bush?
Flame Bush can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings.
Is the Flame Bush Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Flame Bush, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Flame Bush?
Flame Bush is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Flame Bush is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Combretum genus — compare its care with other Combretum species on PlantoScan.
Combretum is part of the Combretaceae plant family — browse all Combretaceae genera and species.
Flame Bush thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Combretum paniculatum Vent., family Combretaceae (first published in Choix Pl. : t. 58 (1808)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Flame Bush, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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