Scientific Name
Campsis radicans (L.) Seem.
Synonym(s)
Bignonia radicans, Bignonia coccinea, Bignonia florida, Campsis curtisii, Gelseminum radicans, Tecoma radicans
Common Name(s)
Trumpet Vine, Trumpet Creeper, Virginian Trumpet Flower, Cow Itch Vine, Hummingbird Vine
Scientific Classification
Family: Bignoniaceae
Tribe: Tecomeae
Genus: Campsis
Origin
Campsis radicans is native to the eastern United States and naturalized in parts of the western United States, Ontario, parts of Europe, and scattered locations in Latin America.
Flower
Color: Orange to red with a yellowish throat
Bloom Time: Late summer and fall
Description
Campsis radicans is a vigorous, self-clinging woody climber that grows up to 33 feet (10 m) tall. The leaves are opposite, ovate, pinnate, up to 4 inches (10 cm) long, emerald green when new, and maturing into a dark green.
The flowers appear in terminal cymes of 4 to 12, generally in late summer and fall. They are orange to red with a yellowish throat.
How to Grow and Care for Campsis radicans
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 4a to 10b: from -30°F (-34.4°C) to 40°F (4.4°C).
This easily grown vine thrives in both sun and partial shade. While it prefers well-drained soil, the Trumpet Vine flower is resilient enough to adapt to nearly any soil and will grow readily. Be sure to choose a suitable location before planting, as well as a sturdy support structure.
Planting too close to the home or outbuilding could result in damage from the vine's creeping roots, so you must plant the vine some distance from the house. They can work their way under the shingles and even damage foundations.
A trellis, fence, or large pole works well as a support structure when growing Trumpet Vines. However, do not allow the vine to climb trees, as this can lead to strangulation.
When growing Trumpet Vines, containment is another consideration. Some people find it useful to plant Trumpet Vines in large bottomless containers, such as 5-gallon buckets, which can be sunk into the ground. This helps keep the vine's spreading habit under control. If the vine is located in a large enough area where its suckers can be routinely mown and pruned, it can be grown without support and treated more like a shrub.
See more at How To Grow and Care for Trumpet Vine.
Hybrids
Links
- Back to genus Campsis
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
