Trumpet Vine

Culture Notes
Like many vines, Trumpet Vine flowers best in a full sun location.  It grows, but flowers poorly, in a shaded location.  It will do fine in any soil except those kept continually wet and flooded.  Trumpet Vine climbs to 30 feet or more when given support.  The brilliant orange flowers are borne in summer and are often visited by hummingbirds.  They will hang down from an arbor or trellis making a wonder "wall" or "ceiling" in a garden.  Rapid growth makes training easy, but regular pinching and pruning is required to establish this vine on a structure. Be careful when pruning because some people react to the foliage with skin inflammation. Pollen causes some allergy problems for some people.

The invasive nature of the plant makes it hard to get rid of once it is established in the yard. It will readily climb onto nearby trees, houses and arbors. Consider cutting it to the ground each spring just before new growth emerges.

Planting and establishing shrubs

The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep.  Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery.  In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off.  The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider.  In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole.  Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential.  Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth.  Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk.  If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer.   This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry.  Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.  Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment. 

Pests, Diseases and Damaging Agents
Pests:  Planthoppers may occasionally feed on Trumpet Vine.  The insects generally cause no serious damage so controls are not needed.

Diseases:  Leaf spot caused by various fungi may be seen but is not serious, and powdery mildew causes a white powdery growth on the leaves.

Native to the following North American locales: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia