Campsis radicans (L.) Bureau

Trumpet Creeper; Cow Itch Vine

Vine

Perennial

Vascular

Trumpet Creeper is a native woody deciduous vine in the Trumpet-Creeper/Bignonia family (Bignoniaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Trumpet Creeper occurs in a variety of habitats from floodplain forests to disturbed urban woodlands. Trumpet Creeper trails along the ground or more often climbs trees or buildings by means of adventitious roots produced along the stem. The bark is thin, smooth, and tan in color. It peels in thin strips. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, and odd pinnately compound with 7-11 leaflets. The leaflets are ovate to elliptic in outline with toothed margins. Flowers are produced in terminal corymbs. The calyx is campanulate with 5 lobes. The corolla is funnelform with 5 short spreading lobes. The corolla is orange to red in color. Some horticultural selections have yellow or variegated flowers. The fruit is a large sword-shaped capsule with many winged seed. Trumpet Creeper is available from some nurseries or it can be easily rooted from cuttings or layered. It is easily grown in a wide variety of soils and prefers full sun. The vines will need a trellis or other structure for climbing. Trumpet Creeper grows aggressively and should be heavily pruned each year. Flowers are produced on new growth so plants can be pruned at any time. Trumpet Creeper flowers are attractive to Hummingbirds and an alternate common name is “Hummingbird vine”. Some people experience skin irritations when they come into contact with the foliage of this plant, giving it another common name “Cow-itch”.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC (NWPL)

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