Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: trumpetcreeper
Type: Vine
Family: Bignoniaceae
Native Range: Southeastern United States
Zone: 4 to 9
Height: 25.00 to 40.00 feet
Spread: 5.00 to 10.00 feet
Bloom Time: July
Bloom Description: Orange, scarlet
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: High
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Hummingbirds
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil
Culture
Easily grown in a wide variety of soils. 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.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Campsis radicans, commonly called trumpet vine or trumpet creeper, 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. including Missouri, but has naturalized in many northern states. In Missouri, trumpet vine is native to the Ozark region, but has naturalized throughout the State where it now typically occurs in woods, thickets, fields and along streams, roadsides and railroad tracks (Steyermark). Species plants rapidly grow to 30-40' high. 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. Leaves turn yellow in fall. Clusters (terminal cymes) of red trumpet-shaped flowers (to 3” long) appear throughout the summer (June to September). Flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds. Flowers are followed by long, bean-like seed pods (3-5” long) which split open when ripe releasing numerous 2-winged seeds for dispersal by the wind. 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.
Genus name comes from the Greek word kampe meaning bent in reference to the bent stamens on plant flowers.
Specific epithet means having rooting stems.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Species is a very aggressive spreader.
Uses
Woodland gardens, naturalized areas. Provides quick cover for fences, arbors, trellises, walls or other structures in the landscape. Also may be grown along the ground to camouflage rock piles or old tree stumps. Good vine for hot, dry sites. Needs lots of room. Excellent for hummingbird gardens.