Trumpet Vine Care Guide: How to Grow Trumpet Vine Plants

The trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is a deciduous woody vine that grows in the eastern half of North America. Its typically reddish-orange flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Its dark green foliage provides some groundcover, although the plant is known as a climber, with flowering vines extending as high as thirty-five feet.

The trumpet vine is known by many common names including trumpet creeper, cow itch vine, foxglove vine, hellvine, devil's shoestring, and hummingbird vine. These plants' hardy nature and appealing red flowers make them popular for landscaping and erosion control. The trumpet vine is fast-growing, and it can quickly dominate a garden thanks to its aerial rootlets. Without proper cultivation, new growth can overwhelm other species, including native plants.

Trumpet vine plants are hardy and relatively easy for home gardeners to maintain. In fact, the hardest part of caring for this plant type is making sure it does not overwhelm neighboring plants like wildflowers, honeysuckle, and wisteria.

1. 1. Hardiness zones: The trumpet vine can reliably grow in USDA hardiness zones four through nine.
2. 2. Soil pH: The trumpet vine tolerates both acidic and neutral soil.
3. 3. Soil type: Trumpet vine can establish itself in clay, loamy soil, or sandy soil. Its key requirement is a well-draining soil.
4. 4. Water: Trumpet vines are relatively drought-tolerant. While they can subsist on rainfall for most of the year, they need more frequent waterings in the warm, summer months. If the leaves start to droop or wilt, it’s a sign the plant needs more water.
5. 5. Sunlight: The trumpet vine can thrive in a range of sunlight conditions from partial shade to full sun. The species' red trumpet flowers bloom more robustly in full sun, but even in part shade, you can expect summer and autumn blooms.
6. 6. Bloom time: The trumpet vine mostly blooms during the summer, but well-established plants sometimes flower in early spring and well into fall.
7. 7. Pruning: Prune your trumpet vine plants often. Otherwise, their seed pods can lead to unwanted propagation. The plants are natural climbers, and they can be trained to grow up the side of trellises.

All trumpet vines are known for their dark green foliage, compound leaves, and pinnate leaf structure. All have tubular, trumpet-like flowers, but flower color varies among different types of trumpet vines.

1. 1. Yellow trumpet vine (Campsis radicans f. flava): This variety is known for golden yellow flowers that can be as long as three inches.
2. 2. Chinese trumpet vine (Campsis grandiflora): This plant type has broader flowers than the North American variety, but it is less hardy in extreme temperatures.
3. 3. Campsis x agliabuana 'Indian Summer' or 'Kudian': This hybrid trumpet vine is notably hardy and has salmon-yellow flowers. It is a popular type of trumpet vine to grow up the side of a trellis.
4. 4. Campsis radicans 'Apricot': This cultivar, which produces apricot-colored flowers, tends to grow more compactly than other varieties of trumpet vine.

The trumpet vine is toxic to both people and animals. Its flower nectar attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators, but its foliage and seeds should not be handled on a prolonged basis. Gardeners should use gloves when handling these plants to avoid getting a rash or hives from trumpet vine seed pods.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.