Summary
Trumpet-creeper (Campsis radicans) is a woody climbing vine with red tube-shaped flowers and lush green foliage. Siting trumpet-creeper should be considered carefully as it develops a tap root, is quite vigorous, and becomes weighty with age. As it can overtake an area by suckering profusely from underground runners, use of this species in formal spaces and small home gardens is not recommended.
This species should not be confused with trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), which has smaller flowers, rounded leaves, and a less aggressive habit.
Climbing by aerial rootlets, it easily reaches heights of 50’. It is adaptable to a variety of soil types and is drought tolerant once established. The foliage of trumpet-creeper is pinnately compound with each leaf measuring about 14” long and consisting of 7-13 leaflets, each leaflet is about 4” long. The leaflets are ovate to lanceolate in shape, have toothy serrations, and are a glossy dark green, an effective backdrop to the floral display. The leaves turn yellow to yellow–green in the fall.
Showy, reddish-orange to orange trumpet-like flowers are displayed in clusters of 4-15 at the tip of the stems and are typically 2-3” long and 1½” wide at the opening. The richly colored flowers attract pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, while the lush foliage provides nesting sites for birds. Resistant to deer and rabbit browse.
Trumpet-creeper will bloom in the shade, but the best flowering is in full sun. It blooms on new wood, so pruning the stems back in spring will not affect flowering but is advisable to help maintain size. Fertilized flowers mature into slender, 3-7” long, seed pods containing numerous winged seeds. Removing the developing pods allows the plant to produce more flowers later into the season and is a method to control unwanted seedlings. Suckers should be removed/controlled in order to maintain the plant’s size. Zones 4-9.
More Details
- Plant Type
perennial-vine - Sun/Shade Conditions
full-sun-to-partial-shade - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
dry-to-average - Flowering Period
late-spring-to-late-summer - Soil PH
adaptable - Flower Color
orange, red, yellow - Summer Foliage Color
dark-green - Fall Foliage Color
yellow-green-to-yellow - Fruit/Seed Color
brown-rust
Additional Information
Missouri Botanical Garden, Illinois Wildflowers, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center