Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) is a native vine found throughout
nearly the entire breeding range of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. So if you
are wanting hummingbirds to visit, this plant sure will be helpful! Although
some folks consider this plant a weed, it is a very valuable native hummingbird
flower. The nectar of the flowers attracts the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, while
bumblebees collect pollen; the latter are non-pollinating.
Robust
and aggressive, it is best planted at the base of a fence or tree where it can
be trimmed back. Trumpet Creeper usually climbs up trees, shrubs, telephone
poles, and other vertical structures using aerial rootlets, otherwise it sprawls
across the ground. This aggressive vine requires ample space and vertical
support.
Trumpet Creeper such as the Indian Summer needs partial sun, moisture, and various kinds of soil,
including loam, clay-loam, and rocky.
The
Trumpet Creeper Flamenco, is a rapid growing, clinging vine that produces orange
trumpet shaped flowers in the summer months that attract hummingbirds and
butterflies. It is also known as the Trumpet Vine and is a tough vine for hot
and dry sites. This plant flowers best in a full sun location. The rapid
growth makes it an excellent plant for covering fences or
arbors.