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Trumpet Vine
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Trumpet Vine

Campsis radicans

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
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Basic Details

NameTrumpet Vine
DescriptionVigorous deciduous woody vine renowned for its spectacular clusters of trumpet-shaped orange to red flowers that bloom profusely throughout summer, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. Climbs rapidly by aerial rootlets to 30-40 feet, clinging tightly to walls, fences, and arbors with considerable strength. Extremely hardy and fast-growing, but can become invasive through underground runners and suckers, requiring thoughtful placement and aggressive pruning to control spread.
FamilyBignoniaceae
GenusCampsis
TribeTecomeae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaEBr % ☿ K(5) C(5) A4 G(2)

Ebracteate (no bracts), Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical), bisexual, 5 fused sepals, 5 fused petals forming trumpet shape, 4 stamens (didynamous - 2 long, 2 short), 2 fused carpels with superior ovary

Features
  • Name 'Trumpet' refers to the distinctive trumpet or funnel-shaped flowers. 'Campsis' comes from Greek 'kampsis' meaning bending or curving, referring to curved stamens. 'Radicans' means rooting in Latin, describing the aerial rootlets that allow it to climb
  • Showy trumpet-shaped flowers 3-3.5 inches (8-9 cm) long in clusters of 2-8 blooms. Colors range from orange to red, sometimes yellow in cultivars. Flowers have five pointed lobes and bloom continuously June through September, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies
  • Deciduous woody vine that climbs by aerial rootlets clinging to surfaces. Compound leaves with 7-11 serrated leaflets turn yellow in fall. Bean-like seed pods 3-5 inches (8-13 cm) long split open to release winged seeds
  • Grows 30-40 feet (9-12 meters) tall and equally wide if not controlled. Lifespan of 50+ years. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, or suckers. Extremely fast-growing, can cover large areas in one season
  • Native to eastern and central North America from New Jersey and Indiana south to Florida and west to Texas. Naturalized in many northern states. Thrives in various habitats from woodlands to roadsides
  • Extremely adaptable - grows in full sun to part shade (best flowering in full sun). Tolerates wide range of soils including sandy, loamy, and clay. Drought-tolerant once established. Hardy USDA zones 4-10, surviving to -30°F (-34°C)
  • Major hummingbird attractor, especially Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Also attracts butterflies and bees. Birds nest in dense foliage. Contact with leaves can cause skin redness and itching (cow-itch vine), and plant is slightly toxic if ingested
  • Requires robust support due to weight and vigor. Needs aggressive pruning in late winter/early spring to control spread and maintain shape. Spreads by underground runners forming dense colonies. Can damage wood, stone, and brick with rootlets. Considered invasive in some regions

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificCampsis radicans
English (Alternate)Trumpet Creeper, Cow-itch, Cow Vine, Devil's Shoestring, Hellvine, Hummingbird Vine
Hindiलटकनिया (Latkaniya), पहाड़ी तुरही (Pahari turhi), तूर्य फूल (tūrya phool)
Tamilகொழுக்கொடி (Kozhukodi)
Teluguట్రమ్పిట ఫ్లాఉఅర (Trumpet flower)
Malayalamകോളാമ്പി (Kōlāmpī), കോളാമ്പി പൂവ് (Kōlāmpī Pūvŭ)
Kannadaತಟ್ಟುನ (Tattuna)
SanskritCampsis radicans
Bengaliটেকোমা (Tecoma), কমলা ঢাক লতা (Komla Dhak Lata)
Frenchbignone
Russianтруба виноградная лоза (truba vinogradnaya loza)
Spanishenredadera de trompeta
GermanKlettertrompete and Trompetenblume

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.