Trumpet Vines

Q. We bought two vines and haven't planted them yet. Can't remember what kind specifically - keep thinking trumpet vines. Where do you recommend planting? I am favoring at the base of a split log fence in front of the house, which faces north. There is one big tree, but most of day, the yard is sunny.

A. From the description, I would agree it is a very good spot for the vine. Being north facing bothers me, but you state that it would be getting a lot of sunshine. When I think north, I see lots of shade!

Planting it by the wooden fence would be great for providing the means for the spreading of the branches and exposing its leaves to sun and air. Work the soil up well to a depth of 2' if you can. Add some organic material as compost, leaf mold or peat moss. Water in well after planting and tend to it carefully through the first few weeks, as the sun may be hot and the air may dry it. Light misting of the foliage in the AM will assist its acclimation.

Start giving it a basic gardening fertilizer after one month, at an interval of 3-4 weeks. Help the new vines and tendrils by attaching with green string loosely.

Q. Why don't my trumpet vines bloom?

A. You may not believe this response, but in a two words, Ignore It! Trumpet vines need to be a year or two old before they will start blooming. While they are young and vegetative, flowers are about the least likely thing to show up. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers [the first of the three numbers on the label] around them every spring and summer, again to keep them from putting out only leaf and stem growth.

Plant it and leave it alone, other than an occasional drink of water for the first 3-4 months. After that, ignore it except to prune it heavily in late spring. It is one of the very best plants around to attract hummingbirds.

Trumpet vines do not bloom well when they are planted where they get regular watering and fertilizer. They don't like to be fussed over. People plant them to grow up power poles and the older ones even climb along power wires till the power company cuts them off. After they are established, do not even bother giving them much water. Therefore, do not plant it near a vegetable or flower garden or it will not bloom well, if at all.

Debbie writes~
I have a Campsis radicans vine? I want to plant this on my fence? How do I get this plant to trail to the fence? I live in zone 8.

A. Plant it right next to the fence and allow it to climb. They grow wildly and will not need a bunch of help, even fertilizer or water once established. We have a wild one in our back yard which comes up every spring for over 30 years!

Campsis radicans [Trumpet Vine] grows vigorously up to 20 to 40 feet. Its leaves are compound and dense and its stems have aerial roots that can cling to walls, trees and fence posts. Clusters of yellow orange to red trumpet-like flower that are three to four inches long appear in summer and continue blooming until early autumn. Native to the southeastern and Gulf Coast region of the United States where it grows along fences and at the edge of woodlands.

Light: Full sun or shade.
Moisture: Prefers rich moist soil, but is very adaptable!
Hardiness: USDA Zone 6-10.
Propagation: Seeds. Trumpet vine suckers freely from the roots, these can be easily transplanted.

This easily grown vine has been cultivated in North America since Colonial times. Use it in woodland gardens and natural areas. It will quickly cover fences and other structures. The trumpet shaped flowers are beautiful and will attract hordes of hummingbirds [hence the nickname Hummingbird Vine...they like to get nectar from the throats of the trumpets] from miles around.

WARNING: The common name cow-itch vine refers to the fact that the plant produces a skin irritant. Contact may result in redness, burning and itching in susceptible individuals. This plant may also become invasive when grown under optimal conditions -- cut back in winter if necessary to keep in bounds.

Streetside.com

Backyard Gardener reader comments:

Some catalogs use the term "Hummingbird Vine" to mean Campsis radicans, or as we call it "Trumpet Vine". It is great for drawing hummingbirds. The flowers are trumpet-shaped and contain large amounts of nectar. My son planted one several years ago on our side fence (split-rail). It was just a stick with a few leaves the first year. 2nd year- 6 or so blossoms and after that it went wild and covered 10-15 ft. of fence with dozens of large showy trumpets. It needs a sturdy support and must be pruned ruthlessly to keep it from taking over the yard, but when you see hummers darting in and out of the blooms and feasting daily, you will be glad you planted it. If you have friends that want starts, don't worry. Sprouts will be coming up all over. I just pull/dig them out or cut them back if I let them go too long. The roots go down to China. Now in the Spring it's time to cut back the main branches to the nub to make room for new growth. The Four Seasons Nursery catalog has this vine @ two for $3.95. Check it out at
Trumpet vines are also a good way to camouflage/hide a blank wall or ugly utility pole. If you live in the country and have a lot of fencing on your property, this is the vine for you. The key is patience. You won't have blossoms the first year.

Jolene writes~ Is a pipe fence okay to grow Trumpet Vines? Or will metal hurt the plant? I have seen several suggestions to grow them on a split rail or wooden fence... however, I have a pipe fence... also, is this vine poisonous to horses?

The pipe would not cause any damage to this vine or plant, but it has been found poisonous to birds, rabbits and people in some cases, depending upon the amount ingested. I do not recommend it therefore: Trumpet vine or trumpet creeper Campsis radicans Trumpet creeper (Bignoniaceae)

Poisonous:

Trumpet plant-all parts - Trumpet vine-all parts

This woody vine may climb to 15 meters high. It has pealike fruit capsules. The leaves are pinnately compound, 7 to 11 toothed leaves per leaf stock. The trumpet-shaped flowers are orange to scarlet in color.