The illustrated growing guide
Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
Family Bignoniaceae
Est. zones 4-9
A native hummingbird magnet that covers a fence or arbor in orange trumpets all summer — but know what you're planting: it's aggressive, clinging hard enough to pull down gutters, suckering from the roots, and self-sowing. Give it a strong freestanding structure far from the house, cut it back hard yearly, and enjoy the hummingbird show. 'Madame Galen' is a more restrained hybrid.
Full Sun
Low water
Very Fast — aggressive growth
Native to North America
Attracts hummingbirds
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing trumpet vine? Hang it.
Our Vines & Climbers collection carries trumpet vine — Campsis radicans, print Nº 8, “Trumpet Vine.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
I
Overview
Will trumpet vine suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what trumpet vine actually needs.
Hardy inZones 4-9Trumpet Vine at a glance
Common trumpet vine problems
- Almost none
- Almost none
II
Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow trumpet vine: light, water & soil
III
The year
What trumpet vine asks for, month by month.
The trumpet vine year, month by month
BloomPruneWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The trumpet vine year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb pruning
- Mar pruning
- Apr quiet month
- May quiet month
- Jun bloom
- Jul bloom
- Aug bloom
- Sep bloom
- Oct bloom
- Nov bloom
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
IV
Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Trumpet Vine in the garden system
- Vine layer vine
- Nectary/insectary
What trumpet vine is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxicFoliage/sap can irritate skin (some people)
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
V
Cultivars
Named varieties of trumpet vine, ruled as a catalogue.
Best trumpet vine varieties & cultivars
'Madame Galen' (less aggressive hybrid); 'Flava' (yellow); native species is the toughest and most aggressive
VI
Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to trumpet vineyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
VII
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
VIII
Questions
Trumpet Vine questions, answered straight.
Is trumpet vine safe for kids and pets?
Trumpet Vine is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. One caveat on this one: Foliage/sap can irritate skin (some people. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
IX
Elsewhere
Where trumpet vine sits in the library.
Sweet Pea
Morning Glory
Clematis
Wisteria