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.

General: Bignonia Family (Bignoniaceae). Trumpet creeper is a deciduous or partly evergreen vine that climbs by aerial rootlets and twining stems. This is a U.S. native. Stems can grow up to 12 m long and have numerous aerial rootlets. Leaves are opposite, pinnately compound and coarsely toothed, composed of 7, 9, or 11 leaflets. Leaflets are somewhat shiny and dark green. Flowers are yellow-orange to red, tubular, and up to 8 cm long and 4 cm wide at the mouth. Flowers are born in clusters of four to a dozen and bloom from July through August. The fruit is a flat, tapered capsule, 8-13 cm long with seeds that are flat and winged.

Distinguishing characters of trumpet creeper include its U-shaped bundle scars on the stem, abundant root-like aerial stems, opposite compound leaves that are coarsely toothed, large trumpet-shaped flowers, and its light tan bark that appears flaky on mature stems.

Distribution: Trumpet creeper is native to eastern, north-central, and south-central portions of the United States and has become naturalized in New England. Its natural range occurs from New Jersey to Ontario and Iowa, and south to Florida and Texas. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Habitat: Trumpet creeper is found in thickets, dry woods, waste grounds, railroads, disturbed sites, clearings, and along roadsides and fencerows.

Bignonia radicans, cow-itch, Gelseminum radicans, Tecoma radicans, Tecoma speciosa, trumpet flower, trumpet vine.

Trumpet Creeper is native to the southern half of Illinois and adventive in the northern half of the state. It is fairly common in the southern portion of its range, becoming less common or absent in the north. 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.

Bignonia radicans L.:
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Campsis radicans (L.) Bureau:
Ecuador (South America)
Peru (South America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Distribution: A native of N.America. Widely cultivated.

The USDA hardiness zones for trumpet creeper are 4-10. It grows in wet to dry soils and sand, loam, or clay soil types with a pH range of 3.7 to 6.8. Trumpet creeper prefers full sun for best flowering.

Similar to the preceeding species but pubescent, larger leaves and beaked capsule. It also grows earlier in the year.

Trumpet Creeper is native to the southern half of Illinois and adventive in the northern half of the state. It is fairly common in the southern portion of its range, becoming less common or absent in the north. 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.

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.

Campsis radicans (Trumpet Creeper)
(Hummingbirds suck nectar from flowers, while orioles perforate [prf] the flowers near their corollas to steal nectar [sn@prf], and sometimes hummingbirds sucked nectar from these perforations as well; according to Robertson, bees collect pollen from flowers & are non-pollinating, however Bertin found that the honeybee and bumblebees sometimes sucked nectar within the flowers and successfully pollinated them; Halictid bees, ants, and flies suck nectar from extra-floral nectaries; observations are from Robertson and Bertin)

Flower visitors:

Birds
Trochilidae: Archilochus colubris sn fq sn@prf (Rb, Brt), Icterus galbula prf sn@prf np (Brt), Icterus spurius prf sn@prf np (Brt)

Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera sn cp (Brt); Apidae (Bombini): Bombus spp. sn cp (Brt), Bombus pensylvanica cp fq np (Rb)

Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Unidentified spp. cp np (Brt), Lasioglossum zephyrus cp np (Rb)

Moths
Sphingidae: Manduca sexta sn (Brt)

Extra-floral nectary visitors:

Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Lasioglossum imitatus sn fq (Rb), Lasioglossum versatus sn fq (Rb), Lasioglossum zephyrus sn fq (Rb)

Ants
Formicidae: Crematogaster lineolata sn fq (Rb), Formica fusca sn fq (Rb), Formica schaufussi sn (Rb), Tapinoma sessilis sn (Rb)

Flies
Syrphidae: Syritta pipiens sn (Rb); Sarcophagidae: Helicobia rapax sn (Rb), Ravinia anxia sn (Rb), Ravinia stimulans sn (Rb); Calliphoridae: Lucilia sericata sn (Rb); Muscidae: Musca domestica sn (Rb), Stomoxys calcitrans sn (Rb); Milichiidae: Milichiella lucidula sn fq (Rb); Otitidae: Delphinia picta sn fq (Rb)

Fl.Per.: May-July.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


No available public DNA sequences.

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 6
Specimens with Barcodes: 8
Species With Barcodes: 1

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N2 - Imperiled

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Trumpet creeper is an invasive weed. Please consult the PLANTS Web site (http://plants.usda.gov) and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Planthoppers may occasionally feed on trumpet vine but generally do not cause serious damage. Leaf spots caused by various fungi may be seen but are not serious. Mildew causes a white powdery growth on the leaves.

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely.

The NRCS Plant Materials Program has not released any cultivars of trumpet creeper for conservation use. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.” The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

Ornamental cultivars of trumpet creeper include ‘Atropurpurea,’ ‘Crimson Trumpet,’ ‘Flamenco,’ ‘Flava,’ ‘Madame Galen,’ ‘Minor,’ ‘Praecox,’ ‘Speciosa,’ and ‘Variegata.’ These cultivars have been bred for flower and foliage color and for rapid growth.

Trumpet creeper is typically propagated by cuttings. It readily roots and develops new suckers that allow the species to grow rapidly.

Seeds are prepared for germination by stratifying them in moist sand for 60 days at 4^oC and 30% relative humidity. Fungicide should be added to the sand to prevent mildew formation. For spring outplanting, seeds are sown in early fall. Sixty percent germination will occur within two weeks of removal from stratification conditions. There is no special treatment required for establishment other than monitoring for water needs.

During the active growth phase, plants will need to be cutback to encourage root growth and prevent the tangling of foliage. Seedlings will need to harden in winter-like temperatures before outplanting.

If not controlled, rampant growth will become a problem. Vines should be thinned throughout the growing season and cut back in winter to prevent aggressive spread.

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.

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.

Ornamental: The showy flowers of trumpet creeper make this plant appropriate for some gardening and landscaping needs. It is often used as a cover for fences, arbors, walls, pillars or large trellises and as a groundcover. The cigar-like fruit may be considered decorative during winter.

Wildlife: The tubular flowers and large quantities of nectar produced by trumpet creeper are attractants for

hummingbirds and butterflies. The vines also provide habitat to ants.

Warning: Contact with the leaves and flowers of trumpet creeper results in skin redness and swelling among mammals. It is also slightly toxic if ingested.

The flowers have been observed in both the species to be visited by Humming birds and ants which bore a hole at the base of the corolla tube to get at the nectary.