Trumpet vines are a favorite for their showy reddish, orangish, or yellowish flowers in summer and autumn. The dark-green divided, cut foliage is also attractive when the plants aren't in bloom. Trumpet vines attract both butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden.



Plant facts

  • Common name: Trumpet vine
  • Botanical name: Campsis spp.
  • Zones: 5 to 9, depending on species
  • Size: To 30 feet
  • From: Areas of Asia and North America, depending on species
  • Family: Bignoniaceae (catalpa family)



Growing conditions

  • Sun: Full sun or partial shade. Partial shade reduces flowering, however.
  • Soil: Ideally, a moist, but well-drained soil. Trumpet vines tolerate a wide range of soil conditions.
  • Moisture: Water during times of drought to encourage good flowering.
  • Zones: 5 to 9, depending on type. In cold winter areas, overwinter by planting it against a south-facing wall.


Care

  • Mulch: A 2-inch-thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant helps conserve moisture, reduce competition from weeds, and protect the plant from lawn mowers and string trimmers. Keep the mulch at least 4 inches from the plant's stem.
  • Pruning: Late winter or early spring.
  • Fertilizer: Avoid fertilizing in all but the poorest soils; a soil that's too rich in nutrients can keep the vine from blooming.
  • Support: These vines can grow to be quite large-be sure the support is large enough to handle a full-grown plant.


Propagation:

  • Seed: Sow seed in spring.
  • Cuttings: Take cuttings in mid- or late summer.
  • Layering: Bend one of the growing shoots toward the ground in early spring. Remove the leaves along a section of the stem, gently nick the stem in that area, then bury that section under several inches of soil. (Anchor the shoot down to the ground.) The stem should root in about a year. After it roots, cut it from the mother plant.
  • Suckers: Dig suckers (stems that emerge from the ground away from the plant's main stems) and transplant them.


Problems:

  • Aphids: These small insects often appear in large numbers on new growth. Spray them off daily with a stream of water; they will not attack a plant after being knocked off. Use an insecticidal soap or neem-oil-based spray if infestations are severe.
  • Leaf spot: In summer or autumn, the leaves become spotted yellowish or with darker colored spots. Each spot often has concentric rings around it, forming something of a bull's-eye pattern. To deter it, prune the plant to keep good air flow and avoid wetting the foliage in afternoons and evenings.
  • Powdery mildew: This disease tends to appear in mid- to late summer and looks like someone dusted affected leaves with a grayish powdery covering. The leaves then drop off. To deter the disease, prune the plant to keep good air flow and avoid wetting the foliage in afternoons and evenings.
  • Scale: Scale insects crawl up plant stems, find a permanent home, and sort of plant themselves on the plant. They appear as small, raised spots and are easy to overlook. To deter scales, try encouraging beneficial insects; apply insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.


Garden notes

  • This plant can be a bit invasive in the garden-don't plant it too close to neighbors.
  • The blooms attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
  • The plants can sometimes take a number of years to bloom after planting in the garden. Be patient, be sure not to fertilize it too much, and give it a good site to encourage blooming.
  • Contact with the foliage can cause skin irritation.

Selections:

  • Campsis grandiflora: Grows to 30 feet tall with orange or red flowers in late summer and autumn. Zones 7 to 9.
  • Campsis grandiflora ‘Morning Calm': Grows to 30 feet tall with apricot-orange flowers in late summer and autumn. Zones 7 to 9.
  • Campsis radicans: Grows to 30 feet tall with orange or red flowers in late summer and autumn. Zones 5 to 9. Native to southeastern North America.
  • Campsis radicans ‘Monbal' (Balboa Sunset): Grows to 30 feet tall with intense scarlet-red flowers in late summer and autumn. Zones 5 to 9.
  • Campsis radicans ‘Flamenco': Grows to 30 feet tall with bright red flowers in late summer and autumn; yellowish autumn color. Zones 5 to 9.
  • Campsis radicans ‘Flava': Grows to 30 feet tall with bright yellow flowers in late summer and autumn. Zones 5 to 9.
  • Campsis x tagliabuana ‘Madame Galen': Grows to 30 feet tall with salmon-red flowers in late summer and autumn. Zones 5 to 9.