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How to Grow Campsis — Trumpet Vine

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Trumpet vine produces orange or red flowers in summer. Each flower is 2-inches wide and trumpet-shaped; flowers are borne on pendulous, terminal clusters in summer. Leaves are pinnately compound with 7 to 11 leaflets.

Get to know Trumpet Vine

  • Plant type: Deciduous summer-blooming vine
  • Growing Zones and range: 4-9
  • Hardiness: Half-hardy
  • Height and width: 20’- 40’ tall; aerial rootlets cling tightly to walls or supports.
  • Foliage: Green leaves are pinnately compound with 7 to 11 leaflets.
  • Flowers: Red or orange trumpet-shaped flowers in pendulous clusters
  • Bloom time: Summer
  • Uses: Covers large spaces quickly, attracts hummingbirds
  • Botanical name: Campsis radicans
  • Common name: Trumpet Vine

Where to plant Trumpet Vine

  • Trumpet vine needs full sun for best flowering; the plant will tolerate light shade.
  • Grow trumpet vine in average to poor soil.
Trumpet vine, Campsis radicans

Trumpet vine, Campsis radicans

When to plant Trumpet Vine

  • Set trumpet vine in the garden in spring or fall.

Planting and spacing Trumpet Vine

  • Space trumpet vine 10 or more feet apart.
  • Provide trumpet vine with a heavy arbor or pergola.
  • Rootlets can be destructive to masonry and wood.

How to water and feed Trumpet Vine

  • Trumpet vine needs ample moisture. Mature plants are drought tolerant.
  • Trumpet vines need no extra fertilizer.

Trumpet Vine care

  • Mulch around trumpet vine to prevent weeds.
  • Trumpet vine blooms on new wood; prune heavily each spring to achieve the best control.
  • Cut out suckers as they emerge.
  • Trumpet vine is bothered by few pests and diseases.

Trumpet Vine propagation

  • Take cutting in sprig to layer.
  • Layer vines in fall or spring.

Trumpet Vine varieties to grow

  • Campsis grandiflora, Chinese trumpet creeper, grows in Zones 7-11. It is a less rampant grower.

Written by Stephen Albert

Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.

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