Introduction

Trumpet vine climbs to 30 feet or more when given support. The brilliant orange flowers are borne in summer and are often visited by hummingbirds. They will hang down from an arbor or trellis making a wonder "wall" or "ceiling" in a garden. Rapid growth makes training easy, but regular pinching and pruning is required to establish this vine on a structure. The invasive nature of the plant makes it hard to get rid of once it is established in the yard. Ants often live on trumpet vine and are sometimes found objectionable by gardeners. The thick, woody stem can grow between wooden house siding and destroy it. It is best suited for planting at the base of an arbor or trellis. It can also be used in a container where it will cascade over the side.

General Information

Scientific name: Campsis radicans

Pronunciation: KAMP-sis RAD-ick-anz

Common name(s): trumpet creeper, trumpet vine

Family: Bignoniaceae

Plant type: vine

USDA hardiness zones: 4B through 10A (Figure 4)

Planting month for zone 7: year round

Planting month for zone 8: year round

Planting month for zone 9: year round

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round

Origin: native to Florida

Invasive potential: native plant that often reproduces into nearby landscapes

Uses: hanging basket; attracts hummingbirds

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: depends upon supporting structure

Spread: depends upon supporting structure

Plant habit: spreading

Plant density: moderate

Growth rate: fast

Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite

Leaf type: odd-pinnately compound

Leaf margin: dentate

Leaf shape: ovate

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: deciduous

Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: orange

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: yellow

Flower characteristic: summer flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: pod or pod-like

Fruit length: 3 to 6 inches

Fruit cover: dry or hard

Fruit color: brown

Fruit characteristic: persists on the plant

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: typically multi-trunked or clumping stems

Current year stem/twig color: brown

Current year stem/twig thickness: medium

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun

Soil tolerances: occasionally wet; slightly alkaline; clay; sand; acidic; loam

Drought tolerance: high

Soil salt tolerances: poor

Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable

Winter interest: no special winter interest

Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding

Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant

Use and Management

Like many vines, trumpet vine flowers best in a full sun location. It grows but flowers poorly in a shaded location. It will do fine in any soil except those kept continually wet and flooded.

There are several cultivars: 'Atropurpurea' - large, dark red flowers; 'Speciosa' - bushy growth habit; 'Flava' - yellow flowers; 'Praecox' - blooms earlier.

Planthoppers may occasionally feed on trumpet vine. The insects generally cause no serious damage, so controls are not needed.

Pests and Diseases

Leaf spot caused by various fungi may be seen but are not serious.

Powdery mildew causes a white powdery growth on the leaves.