Campsis

This group consists of only two deciduous, climbing shrubs. Commonly known as Trumpet Creepers, these attractive plants produce beautiful, trumpet-shaped flowers and are suitable for growing up roofs and walls and over tree stumps, though they shouldn't be allowed to climb a live tree as it will most likely choke it. C. grandiflora (Chinese Trumpet Creeper) is a large plant found wild in China, which reaches a 20-foot height. It has pinnate leaves consisting of 7 to 9 leaflets. Its trumpet-shaped, dark orange and red blossoms grow up to 31/2 inches long and are produced in pendant clusters from the ends of the current year's growth, in late summer and early fall. C. radicans (Trumpet Vine) is a rapidly growing plant that climbs by means of aerial roots. The leaves consist of 9 to 11 leaflets and the trumpet-shaped flowers are bright orange and scarlet. They are produced at the ends of the current year's growth, in late summer and early fall. This plant is a native of the southeastern U.S. A variety of C. radicans called Flava produces yellow flowers. C. tagliabuana 'Madame Galen' is a cross between C. grandiflora and C. radicans. It produces panicles of salmon-red flowers in late summer.
Grow Trumpet Creepers in moist, well-drained soil, in a sunny location. Full sun exposure is necessary to ripen growth and produce flowers. If these plants become too large, they may be pruned back in late winter or early spring. Pruning back the lateral growths to two or three buds in the fall, when the foliage has fallen, encourages flowering.

Pot Cultivation

Cuttings of young shoots may be taken in the spring and inserted in a warm propagating case, or cuttings of ripened growth may be taken in the fall and inserted in sandy compost in a frostproof frame or cool greenhouse. Sucker growths and root cuttings also provide a reliable means of propagation.

C. grandiflora	C. tagliabuana

VARIETIES

• C. grandiflora;
• C. radicans & var. Flava, Yellow Trumpet;
• C. tagliabuana 'Madame Galen'.