Trumpet Vine Campsis radicans
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Trumpet Vine:
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAMP-sis RAD-ih-kans
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Campsis radicans is a dense, vigorous, multi-stemmed, deciduous, woody, clinging vine that attaches itself to structures and climbs by aerial rootlets. It is native to the southeastern U. S. but has naturalized in many northern states. In nature, it can be found in swamps, forests, and thickets.
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.
It 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 part 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 problem with species plants (Campsis radicans) 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.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems, although the species is a very aggressive spreader.
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.
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:
- Bignoniacea
- 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, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10b, 10a
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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