The Trumpet Creeper Vine Makes Huge, Red, Trumpet-Shaped Flowers

The plant pictured above is a member of the Trumpet-Creeper Vine family, Bignoniaceae, known as Campsis radicans or the Common Trumpet Creeper vine.

This species favors stream or river environments where the soil is moist. It will creep along the ground or it will produce aerial roots which attach to trees or other objects in order to climb into ample sunlight. The leaves are odd, pinnately compound and can have between 7-13 leaflets. The compound leaves are arranged opposite one another along the stem or vine. The leaflets are oval to elliptical in shape and come to a point at their tip while their margins are coarsely serrate (toothed like a saw). While many of the Bignoneaceae have hairy surfaces to their leaves and stems, Campsis radicans does not. This plant is generally olive colored but its stems can attain a reddish tint.

The most striking feature of this plant are the huge, red, trumpet shaped flowers which appear all summer long. The Common Trumpet Creeper vine is a native in the Gulf states and along the east coast of the US. Its ruby red flowers and its nectar attract hummingbirds.