What is a Trumpet Vine?
A trumpet vine, or Campsis radicans for the formally inclined, is a flowering vine native to the Southeastern region of the United States. Contrary to the name, trumpet vines do not actually produce trumpets, in case you’re wondering where trumpets come from, but they do put out a plethora of trumpet-shaped flowers in the spring and summer. Gardeners have a love it or hate it relationship with the trumpet vine, with some people loving this showy flowering plant, while others loathe it. Trumpet vines are woody climbing vines with ovate leaves. The leaves start out a pale green, becoming darker over time, and the distinctive flowers may be red, orange, yellow, or cream, classically with pale throats. In the fall, the plant produces an array of hanging seed pods. Butterflies and birds cannot resist a trumpet vine in full flower, and trumpet vines also provide habitat for many bird and insect species in their densely interlaced branches and leaves. Some gardeners struggle with trumpet vine
