While we love that this vine is so vigorous, it can become invasive so plant with caution.
Once trumpet vines bloom, they can continue their show all summer long.
The flowers of this perennial also resemblefoxgloveblooms, leading to another common nickname for the plant, foxglove vine.
Credit: Bill Stites
Its best to wear gloves and other skin coverings when managing and handling the plant.
To manage the growth of your trumpet vine, plant it in a location where it can be controlled.
Planting it near concrete will limit its spreading options.
Credit: Bill Stites
Planting it where the grass is mowed will enable you to mow down its suckers and discourage growth.
Left unchecked, trumpet vine plants can grow with ruthless abandon.
How and When to Plant Trumpet Vine
Plant trumpet vines in spring or early fall.
Credit: Andrew Drake
Dig a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container.
Remove the plant and loosen the roots a bit from the root ball before placing in the hole.
Backfill with soil, tamp lightly, and water well.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Space them 5 to 10 feet apart to allow plenty of room for them to spread out.
Plant in full or part sun.
Trumpet Vine Care Tips
Trumpet vine is vigorous, bordering on invasive.
Credit: Jay Wilde
It climbs by way of aerial rootlets that cling to just about anything, including siding.
Trumpet vine also spreads via underground runners that spring up around the main plant.
Light
For the best growth,plant trumpet vine in full sun.
This encourages deep green foliage and an abundance of flowers.
Soil and Water
Trumpet vine thrives on neglect, preferring poor soil to rich, organic soil.
Most trumpet vine doesn’t need watering beyond the typical rainfall they’ll get.
But if you notice trumpet vine wilting, give it some water.
Once trumpet vine is established, it grows well and can even handle drought.
Fertilizer
Trumpet vine doesn’t need any fertilizer.
Credit: Denny Schrock
It grows rapidly and wildly without additional nutrients.
Prune it early in spring, so it’s almost to ground level, leaving just a few buds.
Those seeds can spread trumpet vine all over your garden.
Remove these pods before they fully ripen to reduce the chance of a trumpet vine takeover.
A container of at least 20 gallons is necessary.
Place a trellis or other structure behind the planter to give trumpet vine a place to grow.
Prune regularly to control its growth.
Keeping it pruned and sited away from any buildings will help prevent either of these things causing problems.
Zones 5-9
‘Mme.
Galen’ Trumpet Vine
Campsis’Mme.
Galen' bears large clusters of orange-red blooms on a vigorous plant.
Zones 5-9
Yellow Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicansf.flavabears lots of golden-yellow blooms against dark green foliage.
It climbs to 30 feet or more.
It is considered invasive in Oregon and Washingtonand is discouraged in some regions because it can reseed rampantly.
When planted, it could need a lot of attention.
Like the trumpet vine, it prefers full sun and moist well-drained soil.
Like the trumpet vine, Shasta daisies prefer full sun and well-draining soil.
This low-maintenance bloom also attracts a bevy of birds and pollinators.
If you notice small shoots popping up, you’re free to mow them down.
Campsis radicans - Plant Finder.Missouri Botanical Garden.
May 10, 2004.
Accessed July 31, 2024. https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_cara2.pdf.
Fitzgerald S. Invasive weeds in forestland: Butterfly Bush.
January 2, 2024.
Accessed July 31, 2024. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-1589-invasive-weeds-forestland-butterfly-bush.
