Trumpet Creeper

Campsis radicans is native to eastern North America, from New Jersey and Pennsylvania south to Florida, west to Texas, Oklahoma, and the Midwest, with isolated populations farther north. It is one of the most characteristic native vines of the southeastern United States.

• Also known as "Trumpet Vine" and "Cow-itch Vine" (the latter because the sap can cause skin irritation)
• The genus name Campsis comes from the Greek "kampe," meaning "bent" or "crooked," referring to the curved stamens
• The species name radicans means "rooting," referring to the aerial rootlets that allow it to climb
• Indigenous peoples used the plant medicinally — the Cherokee used a leaf infusion for wounds and a root preparation for various ailments
• Thomas Jefferson grew Trumpet Creeper at Monticello
• Early European settlers called it "Trumpet Flower" for the shape of the blooms
• The genus Campsis contains only 2 species — C. radicans from North America and C. grandiflora from China
• The two species were hybridized to create the popular garden hybrid Campsis × tagliabuana ("Madame Galen"), which combines the hardiness of the American species with the larger flowers of the Chinese species
• Has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit

Trumpet Creeper is a vigorous deciduous woody vine climbing by aerial rootlets to heights of 10–15 m, capable of covering large walls, fences, and trees without any additional support.

Stems: Stout, woody, producing dense clusters of short, adhesive aerial rootlets along the stems that grip any rough surface. Mature trunks can reach 10–15 cm in diameter. The aerial rootlets can damage paint and mortar.

Leaves: Pinnately compound with 7–13 (usually 9–11) ovate to lanceolate leaflets, each 3–7 cm long and 1.5–3 cm wide, dark green above, paler beneath, with coarsely toothed margins. Leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stems.

Flowers: The spectacular feature — large, trumpet-shaped (funnelform), 6–8 cm long and 4–6 cm across at the mouth, with 5 shallow, rounded lobes. Color ranges from fiery orange to scarlet-red to deep reddish-orange. The flowers are produced in showy, terminal cymes of 4–12 blooms from July to September. Long, curved stamens and a curved style protrude from the flower mouth. Flowers are followed by long, narrow, bean-like seed pods.

Fruit: Long, narrow, cylindrical capsules 8–15 cm long, green ripening to brown, splitting open in fall to release numerous flat, winged, papery seeds. The dry brown pods persist on the vine through winter, providing ornamental interest.

Roots: Aggressive, spreading root system that produces numerous suckers (root sprouts) — the primary means of vegetative spread and the reason the vine can be difficult to control.

Trumpet Creeper grows naturally in open woods, forest edges, thickets, fence rows, and disturbed habitats throughout eastern North America, from sea level to about 600 m elevation.

• Thrives in full sun — flowering is most prolific in hot, sunny positions
• Extremely adaptable — tolerates drought, poor soils, urban conditions, salt spray, and air pollution
• Found naturally in floodplains, forest edges, and disturbed sites where it colonizes rapidly
• The large, tubular, red-orange flowers are a textbook example of hummingbird pollination syndrome — the color, tube shape, copious nectar, and mid-summer bloom time are all adapted to attract Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
• Also visited by sphinx moths, long-tongued bees, and orioles
• Provides nesting habitat and protective cover for birds in thicket habitats
• The aggressive root suckering allows the plant to form large colonies — a single plant can send up shoots 3–5 m from the parent
• Can be weedy in gardens — root suckers emerge in lawns and nearby planting beds
• The sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals (hence the name "cow-itch")
• Generally pest and disease-free

Trumpet Creeper is a tough, adaptable vine that rewards a sunny site with months of spectacular flowers, but it requires careful placement to manage its aggressive tendencies.

Site Selection: Full sun for best flowering. Plant where its aggressive spread can be managed — against a masonry wall, sturdy fence, or isolated post. Avoid planting near thin fences, painted surfaces, or in small gardens where root suckers will be problematic. Do not plant near foundations.

Soil: Any well-drained soil. Tolerates clay, sand, poor, and dry soils. pH 5.0–7.5. Extremely adaptable.

Containment: Plant in a bottomless container sunk into the ground to limit root spread. Alternatively, mow regularly around the planting area to control suckers.

Watering: Drought-tolerant once established. Water during the first growing season.

Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring. Cut back hard to control size. Flowers on new growth, so pruning doesn't eliminate bloom. Remove root suckers promptly.

Caution: The aerial rootlets can damage paint, mortar, and wood siding. Plant on masonry, stone, or chain-link fences. The sap may irritate skin.

Hummingbird Gardening: One of the best native plants for attracting hummingbirds. Pair with cardinal flower, bee balm, and native columbine for a hummingbird garden.

Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–9. Extremely cold-hardy.

Propagation: By seed (stratify 60 days), hardwood cuttings, root cuttings, or removal of sucker plants.