Trumpet Creeper Campsis radicans
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Trumpet Creeper:
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAMP-sis RAD-ih-kans
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Trumpet vine is a dense, vigorous, multi-stemmed, deciduous, woody vine in the Bignoniacea (begonia) family that attaches itself to structures and climbs by aerial rootlets. It is native to the southeastern United States but has naturalized in many northern states. In nature, it can be found in swamps, forests, and thickets.
Trumpet vine is easily grown in a wide variety of soils. It is best planted in lean-to-average soils with regular moisture in full sun to partial shade. Foliage grows well in shade, but plants need good sun for best flowering. It blooms on new growth, so early spring pruning will not affect the flowering. Vines must be grown on sturdy structures because mature plants produce considerable weight.
The challenge with species plants is usually not how to grow them but how to restrain them, in large part because they sucker profusely from underground runners and freely self-seed, often forming impenetrable colonies in the wild, which can choke out many plants that get in their way. To keep it in check, plant it near concrete or an area that you can mow; mowing down the suckers will discourage them.
Good landscape uses include planting it in a woodland garden or naturalized area. It is also appropriate in native and pollinator gardens.
Fire Risk: This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems, however, the species is an aggressive spreader. Trumpet vine is also commonly known as cow-itch vine because some people experience skin redness and itching after coming in contact with the leaves.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Apricot'
More compact and manageable; reportedly less invasive. - 'Atropurpurea'
- 'Crimson Trumpet'
- 'Flava'
attractive orange-yellow flowers - 'Indian Summer'
more compact and manageable; reportedly less invasive - 'Judy'
- 'Minor'
- 'Praecox'
- 'Spec'
- 'Apricot'
- 'Apricot', 'Atropurpurea', 'Crimson Trumpet', 'Flava', 'Indian Summer', 'Judy', 'Minor', 'Praecox', 'Spec'
- Tags:
































- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Apricot'
More compact and manageable; reportedly less invasive. - 'Atropurpurea'
- 'Crimson Trumpet'
- 'Flava'
attractive orange-yellow flowers - 'Indian Summer'
more compact and manageable; reportedly less invasive - 'Judy'
- 'Minor'
- 'Praecox'
- 'Spec'
- 'Apricot'
- 'Apricot', 'Atropurpurea', 'Crimson Trumpet', 'Flava', 'Indian Summer', 'Judy', 'Minor', 'Praecox', 'Spec'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Campsis
- Species:
- radicans
- Family:
- Bignoniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers are attractive to hummingbirds which are the principal pollinator of this plant. White-tailed deer and rabbits eat the foliage.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderately resistant to deer, drought, heat, and compaction
- Climbing Method:
- Clinging
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- long, bean-like seed capsules (3-5” long) which split open when ripe releasing numerous 2-winged seeds for dispersal by the wind
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The Trumpet creeper has clusters (terminal cymes) of red trumpet-shaped flowers (to 3” long) that appear throughout the summer (June to September). Its flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Its compound, odd-pinnate leaves (to 15” long) are shiny dark green above and glabrous dull green below. Each leaf has 7 to 11 elliptic to oblong leaflets (to 4" long) with serrated margins. The leaves turn yellow in the fall.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- pale brown and scaly
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Weedy