How to Grow and Care for Trumpet Vine

Trumpet vine, also known as trumpet creeper, produces clusters of trumped-shaped, orange flowers that are beloved by pollinators. These vines prefer mild climates, grow in most soil types, and thrive in full sunlight. In fact, trumpet vine is an aggressive spreader that should be grown with caution.

Additionally, trumpet vine is mildly toxic to people.

Trumpet Vine Care

Trumpet vines require little care in order to thrive. Here are the main care requirements for trumpet vine:

• Choose a location with partial or full sunlight.
• Don't put too much thought into the soil, as trumpet vine isn't picky with soil type.
• Water occasionally or during periods of drought.
• No supplemental fertilizing needed.

Light

Trumpet vines can grow in full sun to partial shade. Full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days, will produce the best flowering.

Soil

These vines can tolerate a wide range of soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils, and have a natural affinity for soils that are moist but well-drained. In native locations, they are often found in seasonal swamps and forest thickets.

Water

Trumpet vines like a moderate amount of soil moisture but have good drought tolerance. In general, they only need watering when there are obvious signs of wilt and withering. In most climates, the typical rainfall will be sufficient to keep the plants healthy. About 1 inch of water per week—through a combination of rainfall and/or irrigation—is entirely sufficient for good plant performance.

Temperature and Humidity

This plant's natural range is the hot, humid Southeastern United States, but it is hardy in zones 4 to 9. In less humid climates, the vine is less vigorous and easier to control.

Fertilizer

Because trumpet vines are such aggressive spreaders and can thrive in lean soil, no supplemental fertilization is recommended.

Types of Trumpet Vine

There are several named trumpet vine cultivars, including:

• C. radicans 'Apricot' is somewhat more compact and less invasive than the main species plant, and it produces apricot-colored blooms.
• C. radicans 'Flava' has showy golden flowers that stretch around 3 inches long. 
• C. radicans 'Indian Summer' is an especially hardy variety and sports yellow-orange blooms.
• C. radicans 'Crimson Trumpet' is an aggressive grower with bright red-orange flowers.
• C. radicans 'Judy' has yellow flowers with orange streaks on the throats. It has excellent frost tolerance.
• C. radicans 'Atropurpurea' is a bright red cultivar, hardy to zone 5.

Pruning

It is almost impossible to prune this vigorous plant too much. Trumpet vines bloom on new stems, so prune early in the spring before growth starts. Cut the plant back to nearly ground level, leaving only a few buds. It is also okay to cut back in late autumn after the leaves have dried and fallen. This kind of aggressive annual pruning is the best way to keep the plant in check.

Vines can also be cut back throughout the season although you may be sacrificing a few blooms. If you want to grow the vine on a structure like a garage or outbuilding, try hanging wire across the surface. This gives the trumpet vine something to attach to and makes it easier for you to take care of necessary pruning throughout the growing season.

Propagating Trumpet Vine

Trumpet vine can be reproduced by many methods, but the easiest way is to transplant runners. These vines are such vigorous growers that the process is extremely easy.

1. Locate a new runner emerging from the soil.
2. Cut the runner.
3. Transplant it to a new location.

Potting and Repotting Trumpet Vine

Trumpet vine makes a surprisingly good container plant, as this method of growing makes it much easier to control its rampant spread. But it will take a very large, heavy container, such as a half-barrel or 20-plus gallon concrete or ceramic planter. Fill the container with general-purpose potting mix, and equip it with a sturdy climbing trellis at the same time you plant the vine.

As with in-ground plants, be sure to dig a hole that's big enough to fit a bottomless bucket container, so it prevents the trumpet vine from spreading its roots and possibly damaging other plants. Gently loosen the roots of plants and place it into the soil, preferably with something that will give it support like a trellis. Be prepared to prune back the vine to just above soil level on a yearly basis in the late fall or early spring. 'Apricot' and 'Indian Summer' are good cultivars for containers, as they are somewhat smaller than other varieties.

How to Get Trumpet Vine to Bloom

Given full sun, there's almost no way to prevent this plant from blooming robustly through the entire summer.

Bloom Months

Trumpet vine tends to bloom from June to September, offering its signature trumpet-shaped flowers in summer and fall.

What Do Trumpet Vine Blooms Look and Smell Like?

Trumpet vine blooms look like small orange trumpets and are about three inches long. They do not offer any fragrance.

How to Encourage More Blooms

The only hindrance to good blooms is if pruning is done too late in the spring, removing the new growth upon which the flower buds form, so avoid this practice. Excessive feeding may stimulate extremely aggressive green growth at the expense of flowers.

Generally speaking, these plants don't need any feeding at all in order to bloom and they respond better to neglect than to fussy attention.

Caring for Trumpet Vine After It Blooms

These vigorous vines do not require any particular care once they are done blooming.

Deadheading Trumpet Vine Flowers

Deadheading trumpet vine flowers once they are done blooming will encourage the plant to keep spreading and reseeding. Consider avoiding this if you don't want your trumpet vine to spread.

Common Problems With Trumpet Vine

The most common complaints about trumpet vine don't involve cultural problems, but rather growth that is too vigorous:

Uncontrollable Spread

The most common complaint about trumpet vine is its rampant growth and habit of damaging foundations and walls, and choking out nearby trees, shrubs, and other plants. For this reason, trumpet vine should be planted at least 6 to 12 feet away from buildings or trees. It is not uncommon for a homeowner to enjoy this plant for a few years, then become disgruntled and begin looking for means of eliminating it (see FAQ).

Fire Hazard

Trumpet vine is a highly flammable plant, so it is a poor choice for planting next to foundations or building walls in regions where wildfires are a known hazard. A neglected plant that is not pruned back annually can envelop a home or garage in a manner that creates a serious fire risk.