A nice summer garden treat is the Candy Corn Vine, Manettia luteorubra .

This tropical vine from the rain forests of South America is noted for its small, unusual blooms, which are bright red and tipped with yellow. The 1/2- to 3/4-inch-long tubular-shaped blooms look like pieces of candy corn. They contrast nicely with the dark green foliage. This novelty plant is at its best during the heat of the summer.

Like most tropical plants, the Candy Corn Vine grows rapidly as the weather warms.

The plants may grow as much as 8 to 10 feet tall when the humidity is high and the summer sun bears down. An ideal location is one that has full sun with a little shade during the heat of the day.

This twining plant needs a trellis or some form of support. It is typically grown as a pot plant. Thus, it works well on a deck or patio. A little pruning keeps the plant compact and helps produce new shoots with plenty of “candy corn.”

Fertilize every two weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer.

In early fall when the night temperatures start falling below 45 degrees, consider bringing all tropical plants indoors before frost.

Clean the plants by giving them a soapy bath to eliminate dust, insects, mites and spiders. Once inside, the Candy Corn Vine will need a south exposure with plenty of sunlight to encourage flowering.

When short on space, take some cuttings in late summer and grow small plants during the winter season.