Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans)

Trumpet Creeper family (Bignoniaceae)

Description: This perennial woody vine is up to 40' long, branching occasionally. Trumpet Creeper usually climbs up trees, shrubs, telephone poles, and other vertical structures using aerial rootlets, otherwise it sprawls across the ground. Young shoots are greenish brown, but become brown and woody as they mature. Pairs of opposite compound leaves occur along the length of the vine. These compound leaves are odd pinnate, consisting of about 7-11 leaflets; they are up to 2½' long and ¾' across. The central stalk of each compound leaf is often hairy. The leaflets are up to 3" long and 1" across. They are ovate or elliptic, pinnately veined, and coarsely toothed along the margins. The upper surface of each leaflet is shiny and hairless, while the lower surface often has a few hairs along the major veins.

Periodically, short cymes of 2-8 flowers are produced along the length of the vine. These flowers are up to 3½" long and have an elongated funnelform shape that is trumpet-like in appearance. The corolla is orange to reddish orange; along its outer rim there are 5 shallow lobes that curl backward. The tubular calyx is reddish orange, leathery in texture, and 5-toothed; it is much shorter than the corolla. Along the inner surface of the corolla, there are reddish lines that function as nectar guides and 4 inserted stamens. There are extra-floral nectaries at the base of each flower. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 2 months. The abundance of flowers is variable; there is no floral scent. Each flower is replaced by an elongated seed capsule about 6" long that tapers at both ends. This seed capsule eventually splits apart into two sections to release the seeds. The seeds are flattened and have large membranous wings; they are dispersed by the wind. The root system consists of a woody taproot.

Cultivation: Typical growing conditions are partial sun, mesic levels of moisture, and various kinds of soil, including loam, clay-loam, and rocky. Full sun is also tolerated. This aggressive vine requires ample space and vertical support. It has few problems with pests and disease.

Range & Habitat: Trumpet Creeper is found throughout most of the central and eastern U.S. and TN. Common.  Habitats include open woodlands, woodland edges, thickets, savannas, gravelly seeps with woody vegetation, riverbanks, limestone glades, fence rows, lawn trees, telephone poles, areas along roads and railroads, and abandoned fields. Sometimes Trumpet Creeper is grown as an ornamental plant in yards. It tolerates various kinds of disturbance.

Faunal Associations: The nectar of the flowers attracts the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole and some Sphinx moths; the hummingbird and sphinx moths are effective pollinators, while the orioles have a tendency to tear-up the flowers, causing more harm than good. Bumblebees and honeybees sometimes seek nectar or pollen from the flowers, but they are probably less effective pollinators. The extra-floral nectaries attract an abundance of ants and flies; to a lesser extent, Halictid bees visit the extra-floral nectaries as well. The caterpillars of Paratraea plebeja (Plebeian Sphinx) feed on the foliage, as do the adults and larvae of the leaf beetle, Octotoma plicatula. The caterpillars of Clydonopteron tecomae (Trumpet Creeper Moth) feed on the seedpods and their contents. The foliage is toxic to mammalian herbivores and little bothered by them; a small number of people may experience a rash from contact with the foliage. Because of the luxuriant leaves and rampant growth of this vine, it provides good cover and nesting habitat for many species of songbirds.

Photographic Location: Sycamore Ridge Ranch in Middle TN.

Comments: Trumpet Creeper is an exotic-looking vine that looks like something one would expect to find in the tropics. It has large flamboyant flowers and reasonably attractive foliage, but can be very aggressive. Another name for this plant is Cow-Itch Vine as the wet foliage can irritate sensitive skin.