Campsis

Plant Characteristics

Origin:	✈	?

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water:	◍	?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.

Scientific Names

Read about Campsis in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Campsis (Greek kampsis, curve, referring to the curved stamens). Bignoniaceae. Trumpet-creeper. Ornamental vines cultivated for their striking scarlet or orange flowers. Deciduous woody plants, climbing by aerial rootlets, with opposite, odd - pinnate lvs., large orange or scarlet fls. in terminal clusters or panicles, followed by large elongated caps.: calyx tubular-campanulate, leathery, unequally 5- toothed; corolla funnelform-campanulate, enlarged above the calyx, 5-lobed, with spreading lobes, slightly 2-lipped; stamens 4, 2 longer and 2 shorter with diverging anthers; ovary 2-loculed, surrounded at the base by a large disk: fr. an elongated caps., loculicidally dehiscent, with the 2 valves septum to which the seeds are attached; seeds numerous, compressed, with 2 large translucent wings.—One species in N. Amer. and one in China and Japan. By some botanists, Bignonia is considered the correct name for this genus, because the original description was chiefly based on C. radicans, while Tecoma is the proper name for the genus known as Stenolobium. The hardiest species is C. radicans, which may be grown as far north as Massachusetts, at least in sheltered positions, while C. chinensis is more tender; the hybrid is intermediate between the two in hardiness. C. chinensis and C. hybrida, as well as C. radicans var. speciosa, can be grown as bushy specimens and will bloom freely on the young shoots, even if cut back almost to the ground by frost. Such plants can be easily protected during the winter by laying them down and covering them with earth. C. radicans is particularly adapted for covering walls and rocks, as it climbs with aerial rootlets and clings firmly to its support. The species of campsis prefer rich rather moist soil and sunny positions. Propagated by seeds, by greenwood cuttings under glass, or by hardwood and also by root-cuttings and layers. Trumpet-vines in the South.—The trumpet-vines are very successfully cultivated in Florida, being well adapted to the soil and climate, but to do their best need to be planted from the start in rich soil; and in addition they should be well fertilized at least once a year. They prefer a fertilizer rich in nitrogen; and a heavy mulch will also prove very beneficial. They should be grown on posts and tall stumps, or they may be trained over small oaks, persimmon trees or catalpas. Other bignoniads of similar culture are Tecomaria capensis, a half-climbing species with scarlet flowers effectively used for decoration of the veranda, and Tecomastans. That and Campsis chinensia are the two showiest bignoniads cultivated in Florida, the latter being a climber, flowering abundantly in May and June, while the first one is a large-growing bushy species opening its immense corymbs of vivid yellow flowers the latter part of November and early in December. The Chinese trumpet creeper, C. chinensis, is the most floriferous and gorgeous. In the writer's garden a large pine stump, about 16 feet high, in May and June is completely covered with masses of brilliant fiery orange-scarlet flowers which can be seen at a distance of half a mile. The flowers are much larger, more brilliant and much more abundantly produced than those of the native C. radicans. It is sometimes infested by a voracious caterpillar, which devours the leaves greedily. The lubber grasshoppers also attack the lower foliage. C. chinensis grows well in the poor sandy soil, perfecting luxuriant shoots 25 to 30 feet long in one season if well fertilized. The native trumpet creeper, C. radicans, is very common in the southern woodlands and fields. There is a great variety in the brilliancy of the blossoms. This is an excellent plant for covering the bare trunks of palmettos. (H. Nehrling.) CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

Do you have cultivation info on this plant? Edit this section!

Propagation

Do you have propagation info on this plant? Edit this section!

Pests and diseases

Do you have pest and disease info on this plant? Edit this section!

Gallery

If you have a photo of this plant, please upload it! Plus, there may be other photos available for you to add.

• 

  photo 1

• 

  photo 2

• 

  photo 3

References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

• w:Campsis. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Campsis QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)