How to Grow and Care for Trumpet Flowers

How to Grow and Care for Trumpet Flowers

Campsis radicans
Bignonia capreolata

You're growing a fast-growing flowering vine with trumpet-shaped blooms attracting hummingbirds in droves. Everyone calls it something different, but "trumpet" is usually in the name. Let's clear up the confusion.

Trumpet flowers are sometimes called "cow itch." As nightshade family members, leaves have a toxic substance causing itching and rash.

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Two Types of Trumpet Flower Vines

1. Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans): Grows 30–40 feet/season with a trunk several inches across. 3-inch blooms appear in summer (earlier in south). Colors: yellow, yellow-orange to red. Native to U.S. Gulf Coast and Southeast.

2. Cross Vine (Bignonia capreolata): Also called trumpet flower/vine. Grows shorter vines. Flowers smaller (2–3 inches). Blooms early spring, attracting returning hummingbirds. Native to mid-Atlantic to Florida, west to Midwest.

If your "trumpet flower" is a bush or tree, you're growing angel trumpet (Brugmansia).

Hummingbirds love the bright blooms.

As flowering vines, they need support to climb. In wild, they grow up tree trunks—naturalized settings work. Trellis or fence works well. Fences are popular for longer vine runs. Support must handle 30–40 feet growth depending on variety.

Plants can be invasive. Good "re-seeders." Growing methods same for both types.

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Plant Propagation

Trumpet flower vines grow from seeds. Sow directly after frost danger passes and soil warms. Plant seeds ¼ inch deep.

Vines also propagate by digging up and replanting suckers.

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How to Grow

Easy to grow. Prefer full sun, tolerate partial shade. Like rich soil for fast growth—mix compost in before planting.

Need lots of water and nutrients. Keep soil moist. Add general-purpose fertilizer at planting and every 2–3 weeks. Switch to high-phosphorus before blooming.

Need support to climb—trellis or fence.

Keep weeded when young. Mulch suppresses weeds and looks neat.

Can be invasive. Good re-seeders. If pods open and scatter seeds, many new plants appear next year. Don't disturb soil until seedlings grow. Thinning needed. To limit spread, pick seed pods as they appear.

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