Marcus, Joseph A.
Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. ex Bureau
Trumpet creeper, Trumpet vine, Common trumpet creeper, Cow vine
Bignoniaceae (Trumpet-Creeper Family)
A high-climbing, aggressively colonizing woody
vine to 35 ft., climbing or scrambling over everything in its path by aerial rootlets. The pinnately
compound leaves with 4 to 6 pairs of leaflets and a terminal one on an axis up to 12 inches long. Leaflets dark green on the upper surface, lighter on the lower, broadly to narrowly
ovate, with coarse teeth, an elongate tip, and a rounded to wedge shaped base, the
blade extending along the
petiolule (leaflet stem) to its base. Flowers showy, waxy, broadly trumpet shaped, up to 3 1/2 inches long, orange to reddish orange, clustered at the ends of branches, appearing throughout the summer.
Fruit a
pod up to 6 inches long with 2 ridges running lengthwise, tapering more gradually to the base than to the tip, and roughly round in cross section.
Native to eastern North America as far north as New York and Ontario, this
vine is often cultivated for its attractive, reddish orange flowers and can
escape cultivation, sometimes colonizing so densely it seems a nuisance, particularly in the southeast, where its invasive qualities have earned it the names Hellvine and Devils Shoestring. Its rapid colonization by suckers and layering makes it useful for erosion control, however, and its magnificent flowers never fail to attract Ruby-throated Hummingbirds within its range. Adapted to eastern forests, Trumpet creeper grows tall with support. It climbs by means of aerial rootlets, which, like English Ivy, can damage wood, stone, and brick. To keep it in check, plant it near concrete or an area that you can mow; mowing down the suckers will discourage them. Fairly drought tolerant within its range. Blooms most in full sun.
Image Gallery:
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Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Usually reddish orange. Yellow cultivars have been produced.
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , MD , MA , MI , MS , MO , NE , NH , NJ , NY , NC , ND , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Canada: ON Native Distribution: Eastern North America from Ontario and NY down to FL and eastern TX, northwest to the Dakotas
Native Habitat: In trees of moist woods or along fence rows in old fields.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Drought Tolerance: High
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Various well-drained soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Limestone-based, Caliche type
Conditions Comments: Blooms most in full sun.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: The plant is frequently cultivated because of its large clusters of attractive, bright red flowers. Several cultivars have been developed, including yellow-flowered varieties and a cross with the Asian species,
Campsis grandiflora, which has broader flowers but is less hardy than our
native species.
Use Wildlife: Pollinated by hummingbirds and long tongued bees.
Warning: The
sap of this plant can cause skin irritation on contact.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds
Larval Host: Trumpet
Vine Sphinx Moth (
Paratraea plebeja)
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Moderate
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Campsis radicans is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Last Update: 2012-12-07
